Abstract
Simple SummaryHumans and sows are both highly social species that exhibit a wide variety of maternal behaviors and responsivity to pregnancy and parturition. Piglet crushing is a production and welfare concern for the swine industry. Similar to rates of postpartum depression in humans, the performance of piglet crushing is more likely in first-time mothers. Furthermore, hormonal profiles and social factors that influence the development of this disease in humans mirror those observed in sows surrounding parturition. This article reviews the biological, social, and management factors that may be contributing to this problem of piglet crushing through the lens of how postpartum depression develops in humans. Utilizing knowledge from human psychology and animal welfare science may provide producers with management tools to mitigate piglet crushing and provide new insight into the factors that contribute to human postpartum disorders.Pregnancy and parturition in all mammals is accompanied with physical, psychological, social, and hormonal shifts that impact the mother physically and psychologically. Pre-weaning piglet mortality continues to be a major welfare and economic issue in U.S. swine production, running at 12–15% with crushing by the sow the major cause. Much research has focused on farrowing environment design, yet the fact that little progress has been made emphasizes that psychosocial factors may impact rates of postpartum disorders (PPD). There is a mismatch between evolved adaptations and contemporary psychosocial and management practices. Many factors associated with the development of PPD in humans are mirrored in sows that perform piglet crushing. These factors include poor mental welfare (anxiety, difficulty coping with stress), a lack of experience, a lack of social support, and individual differences in their sensitivity to hormone concentrations. Understanding what strategies are effective in preventing PPD in humans may have welfare and production benefits for sows—and sows may be a possible model for better understanding PPD in humans.
Highlights
Pregnancy and parturition are experiences accompanied with large hormonal shifts that impact the physical and mental state of the mother, and as a result, some mothers may develop postpartum disorders (PPD), including postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis
Examining the parallels in social network experiences, parity contributions, hormone shifts, and behavioral changes or restrictions between PPD in humans and piglet crushing in sows presents an opportunity to enhance our understanding of both issues, use lessons learned from humans to mitigate piglet crushing in sows, and perhaps increase our understanding of human PPD based upon what we can learn from sows
Human mothers with prior experience caring for infants are less likely to develop PPD [34], and rates of PPD in sows are lower in multiparous parity sows
Summary
Pregnancy and parturition are experiences accompanied with large hormonal shifts that impact the physical and mental state of the mother, and as a result, some mothers may develop postpartum disorders (PPD), including postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. Postpartum depression in humans, as defined by the American Psychiatric Association [8], is a major depressive disorder that includes any time during the pregnancy or the first four weeks postpartum. This disorder affects up to 15% of new mothers [9], is more common in first-time mothers [10], is heritable [11], is not accompanied by any characteristic precursors during pregnancy, and rates of recurrence can reach up to 50% [12]. Examining the parallels in social network experiences, parity contributions, hormone shifts, and behavioral changes or restrictions between PPD in humans and piglet crushing in sows presents an opportunity to enhance our understanding of both issues, use lessons learned from humans to mitigate piglet crushing in sows, and perhaps increase our understanding of human PPD based upon what we can learn from sows
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