Equipping Farrowing Pens with Straw Improves Maternal Behavior and Physiology of Min-Pig Hybrid Sows

Equipping Farrowing Pens with Straw Improves Maternal Behavior and Physiology of Min-Pig Hybrid Sows

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This study investigated the effects of two factors, enriched environment (EE) and different crossbreeds, on the maternal behavior and physiology of Min-pig hybrid sows.The analysis was performed on a total of 72 multiparous sows, including Duroc × Min pig (DM), Landrace × Min pig (LM), and Landrace × Yorkshire (LY) sows, using a total of 24 sows per cross.The sows were housed in two different farrowing pens, one with straw (EE) and one without straw (barren environment (BE)).

The results showed that nest-building behavior, including the frequency, total duration, and bout duration, was significantly higher in EE sows than in BE sows (p < 0.01).The frequency and duration of prepartum nest-building behavior were Playstation Portable Charger higher in DM and LM sows than in LY sows (p < 0.

0001).During the first three days postpartum, EE sows spent a shorter Armored Vehicle time in ventral recumbency compared with BE sows (p < 0.05).

The oxytocin (p < 0.05) and prolactin (p < 0.01) concentrations of EE sows were significantly higher than in BE sows; however, the concentration of cortisol followed the opposite (p < 0.

01).The concentration of oxytocin was significantly higher in DM and LM sows than in LY sows (p < 0.01).

In conclusion, both EE increased the expression of hormones related to parental behaviors and prenatal nesting and nursing behavior of sows.Furthermore, an EE can also reduce stress in sows.Min-pig hybrids may inherit highly advantageous characteristics of maternal behavior of Min-pig sows.