Abstract
This study aimed to examine whether litters’ let-together system before weaning (‘kindergarten-system’) has any stress effect and effect on post-weaning behavior, respectively. One week before weaning piglets were socialized by removing four adjacent farrowing crate walls. After weaning, piglets from the same experimental groups were housed in the same rearing crates. The piglet’s body weight was measured at birth than weekly till the 7th life-week. Fecal cortisol metabolites were measured for evaluation of the adrenocortical activity. Personal observation and evaluation were carried out for behavioral analyses after weaning. There were no significant differences in weight development and cortisol metabolite levels between the control and experimental groups. Behavioral analysis showed that pigs grow up in a socialized system, rapidly evolve ranking in the rearing crates, and the self-maintenance and social behavior were more pronounced. In control groups, the activity involving movement (exploring, walking, and running) was much more decisive. Recent work suggested the beneficial effect of the ‘kindergarten’ system in the farrowing house in animal welfare aspects.
Highlights
Piglets in commercial intensive pig husbandry are often abruptly weaned between 3 and 4 weeks for economic reasons
In 12 control-piglet groups the fecal cortisol/corticosterone metabolites (FCM) level showed a declining or unchanging trend compared to the initial value, 4 litters had more than 30% higher compared to the zero time
Piglets FCM level at weaning Our prediction at the outset of this study was that piglets from the control group will be stressed because of mixing, but despite our assumption in most control groups FCM level decreased more than 30% in the 8th and 24th hours after weaning
Summary
Piglets in commercial intensive pig husbandry are often abruptly weaned between 3 and 4 weeks for economic reasons. EU legislation does not allow weaning before piglets are 28 days old or 21 days when transferred to specialized disinfected pens separated from the sows (Kick et al, 2012; Oostindjer et al, 2014). The sow and litter rejoin the rest of the social group when the piglets reach 4–5 days of age. Piglets may be predisposed to form social bonds with litter-mates immediately after birth, and with other piglets in the social group at 10–12 days of age (Meynhardt, 1986; Pitts et al, 2000). Pigs do appear to be especially good at establishing dominance relationships at around 5–12 days of age through short fights, with a minimum of bullying (Jensen, 1994; Pitts et al, 2000)
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