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      Immunocastrated female pigs’ social and feeding behaviour

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          Abstract

          ABSTRACT This study compared the social and feeding behaviour of immunocastrated female pigs using different immunocastration protocols. We used seventy-two gilts from industrial crossbreeding (Agroceres × Topigs) at 15 weeks of age. The pigs were distributed in a randomised design with three treatments. The second dose of the immunocastration vaccine was applied in two groups, six weeks before slaughter (I6) and four weeks before slaughter (I4). A non-immunised group (NI) was used for comparison. Due to the divergence in the time of immunisation between the two groups, an individual comparison of each immunocastrated group with the control group (NI vs. I6 and NI vs. I4) was performed. Social behaviour was analysed through the collection of images by a monitoring camera, and the analysis period was from 6:00 to 18:00 h, with behaviour observed every ten minutes. Feeding behaviour data were collected by the automated FIRE® system. Anti-GnRH immunisation and the different protocols of application did not influence most social and feeding behaviours.

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          Long-term effect of vaccination against gonadotropin-releasing hormone, using Improvac, on hormonal profile and behaviour of male pigs.

          H Andersson, Gang Chen, Séverine Lowagie … (2008)
          The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term effect of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine, Improvac (Pfizer Ltd.), on the levels of GnRH antibodies, testosterone, estrone sulphate (E1S) and androstenone, as well as skatole and indole in male pigs. Additionally, the long-term effect of immunocastration on social and sexual behaviour was studied. Male pigs were assigned to two treatment groups: a treatment group given two doses of Improvac (n=12) and a control group of entire male pigs (n=12). The pigs were kept either 16 or 22 weeks after vaccination. Blood samples were collected five or six times; prior to both first and second vaccination, then three or four times during the 16 or 22 week period after second vaccination. Immunocastration significantly reduced levels of testosterone and E1S in plasma, and levels of androstenone in fat (P<0.001 for all). Skatole and indole levels in plasma and fat were also lower in immunocastrated pigs than in entire male pigs. These effects lasted up to 22 weeks after the second vaccination. Testis weight and bulbourethral gland length were lower in immunocastrated pigs at slaughter and these pigs showed less social, manipulating and aggressive behaviour than entire male pigs. The immunocastrated pigs remained sexually inactive throughout the study. Our study represents a further step in the evaluation of the effectiveness of Improvac as an alternative to surgical castration of entire male pigs. It shows that Improvac may have an extended effect compared with that currently implied by the directions for use.
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            Sampling methods in behavior research.

            PHILIP LEHNER (1992)
            Animals perform a continuous stream of behavior throughout their lives. Because their behavior is not random, appropriate sampling methods can be used to obtain data that accurately reflect the actual behavior and are valid for answering research questions. Answering questions related to several variables assists in narrowing the choices of sampling methods. First, a determination must be made of what behaviors to measure. If the behaviors are few and easily measured, then All Occurrences Sampling is the method of choice because it generates accurate frequency and duration data through continuous recording. Sequence and Sociometric Matrix Sampling are specialized types of All Occurrences Sampling that are restricted to sampling intra- or interindividual sequences and social interactions (e.g., agonistic), respectively. Second, if who (e.g., specific individual, sex, or genotype) performs the behavior is a major component of the research question, then consideration should be given to Focal Animal (Pair, Group) Sampling. Third, if when or where the behavior is performed is of interest (e.g., activity budget), then Instantaneous or Scan Sampling can often be effective. Ad libitum Sampling does not produce valid data for analyses, but it is useful when formulating and fine-tuning research questions. One-Zero Sampling is not recommended except when the research question relates to the presence or absence of behaviors only. Other factors to consider in selecting a sampling method are duration of the behavior (event or state), desired scale of measurement (nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio), and logistics (e.g., time, and equipment and facilities available).
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              Immunocastration reduces aggressive and sexual behaviour in male pigs.

              L Rydhmer, K Lundstrom, K K Andersson (2010)
              The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine, Improvac™ (Pfizer Ltd), in suppressing aggressive and sexual behaviour of male pigs. One hundred and thirty-six pigs were assigned to three treatments: entire male pigs (n = 64), immunocastration against GnRH (n = 48) and surgical castration (n = 24). Surgical castration was performed before the age of 1 week. Vaccination comprised two injections: the first injection was given 8 to 11 weeks before slaughter and the second injection 4 weeks before slaughter. After the second injection, immunocastrated pigs showed less non-violent social and aggressive behaviours than entire male pigs of the same age. Mounting was reduced to the same low level as observed in surgically castrated pigs, and more immunocastrated pigs were without skin lesions compared with entire male pigs. Pigs that received the second injection only 1 week before the observation day did not differ significantly in behaviour from those that received the injection 3 weeks before the observation day. Thus, the behaviour seems to change soon after the second injection and these changes remain until slaughter.
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                Author and article information

                Journal
                Journal ID (publisher-id): rbz
                Title: Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia
                Abbreviated Title: R. Bras. Zootec.
                Publisher: Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia (Viçosa, MG, Brazil )
                ISSN (Print): 1516-3598
                ISSN (Electronic): 1806-9290
                Publication date (Print and electronic): 2022
                Volume: 51
                Electronic Location Identifier: e20200183
                Affiliations
                [1] Santa Maria Rio Grande do Sul orgnameUniversidade Federal de Santa Maria orgdiv1Departamento de Zootecnia Brazil
                [2] Lages Santa Catarina orgnameUniversidade do Estado de Santa Catarina orgdiv1Centro de Ciências Agroveterinárias Brazil
                [3] Concórdia Santa Catarina orgnameInstituto Federal Catarinense Brazil
                Article
                Publisher ID: S1516-35982022000100303 Publisher ID: S1516-3598(22)05100000303
                DOI: 10.37496/rbz5120200183
                SO-VID: e7937072-3f95-4dd9-a0f0-d5e3a48c40d4
                License:

                This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

                History
                Date received : 12 August 2020
                Date accepted : 23 May 2022
                Page count
                Figures: 0, Tables: 0, Equations: 0, References: 30, Pages: 0
                Product

                SciELO Brazil


                Keywords: welfare,gilts,immunocastration,pre-slaughter,feeding
                Data availability:
                Keywords: welfare, gilts, immunocastration, pre-slaughter, feeding

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