Space allowance and dietary fibre shape distinct adaptive proteomic responses in muscle and measurable effects on broiler meat quality.

Effects of mixed-species stocking and space allowance on the behaviour and growth of red deer hinds and ewes at pasture

Intensification of pig production in developing countries has resulted in increased number of animals per unit area leading to welfare and growth performance issues. This study was then performed to evaluate the effects of space allowance and dietary energy and amino acid content on growth performance and physiological parameters of piglets reared under tropical conditions. A total of 1280 piglets (castrated males and females) with initial body weight of 5.9 ± 0.4kg were used. Animals were distributed in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement composed by two space allowances (0.30 and 0.22m2/animal) and two diets during 43 to 63days of age (control and experimental diet with increased ME and AA content). The experimental period lasted 42days subdivided into four phases according to the growth stage of the animals: pre-initial I (21 to 27days of age), pre-initial II (28 to 34days), initial I (35 to 42days), and initial II (43 to 63days). During pre-initial I and II, and initial I phases, pigs housed at a space allowance of 0.30 and 22m2/animal had similar (P > 0.05) feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion. During initial phase II, space allowance did not affect (P > 0.05) feed intake nor weight gain of the animals. Whereas, pigs fed the experimental diet had greater weight gain when compared to the control group (530 vs. 515g/day, P = 0.03). According to our results, reducing space allowance from 0.30 to 22m2/animal during the nursery phase (21 to 63days of age) had negligible effects on piglet feed intake and weight gain, whereas feeding piglets with diets containing higher energy and amino levels resulted in greater weight gain.

Effects of space allowance on the grazing behaviour and spacing of sheep

Space allowance determination by considering its coeffect with toy provision on production performance, behavior and physiology for grouped growing pigs

This study evaluated the combined effects of container space allowance, height, and ambient thermal conditions on the welfare of fattening rabbits during simulated transport. Nine hundred rabbits were exposed to three space allowances (121, 150, and 191 cm2/kg; S121, S150, S191), two container heights (20 and 35 cm; H20, H35), and four thermal environments (21.4 °C, 25.9 °C, 30.0 °C, and 33.5 °C, T1–T4, all at 50–68% RH) for 8 h after 6-h fasting. Welfare was assessed via thermophysiological (rectal temperature, RT; body weight loss, BWL) and metabolic indicators (hematocrit, glucose, LDH, corticosterone, creatine kinase, NEFAs). Thermographic imaging of ear and lacrimal regions was correlated with RT to validate a non-invasive method for assessing thermal stress. T4 was stopped after 5 h due to severe compromise in S121 and S150, especially in H35. T1 increased hypothermia risk compared to T2 and T3 (p = 0.043). S191 increased hypothermia risk compared to S150 and S121. Cage height did not affect hypothermia (p = 0.875) but increased hyperthermia risk under T3, especially in S150 and S121 (p < 0.037). BWL varied with thermal state (p < 0.001): 54.4 g in hypothermia, 65.2 g in normothermia, 74.1 g in hyperthermia. RT correlated with lacrimal (r = 0.743) and ear (r = 0.704) temperatures (p < 0.001). Hematocrit, LDH, and creatine kinase remained stable. Glucose varied with space allowance (p = 0.002) and tended to vary with height (p = 0.070), highest in S121 and H20. NEFAs decreased under T3 (p < 0.010) and tended to under T2. These findings highlight the importance of optimizing transport conditions and support thermography as a welfare monitoring tool.

Effects of space allocation and parity on selected physiological and behavioural measures of well-being and reproductive performance in group-housed gestating sows

With increasing use of social housing for dairy calves, there is a need to refine housing management practices that influence animal behavior and may affect welfare. Our aim was to assess the effect of pen space allowance on activity patterns and pen space use. Holstein heifer calves were group-housed (n = 6 pens; 5 calves/pen) at 14 d ± 2.8 d of age (mean ± SD). After a 7-d adaptation, each pen was exposed to 3 different space allowances (3.7, 4.6, and 5.6 m2/calf) in a random order, according to a replicated Latin square design with three 7-d periods (period 1, d 22–28; period 2, d 29–35; and period 3, d 36–42). Calves were provided milk replacer (12 L/d) ad libitum via an automated milk feeder and gradually weaned over 10 d, beginning at 48 ± 3 d of age. Using leg-based accelerometers (HOBO Pendant G data logger, Onset Computer Corp., Pocasset, MA), we obtained data describing standing time, standing bout frequency, and standing bout duration. Daily pen-level average standing time (6.5 h/d; SE = 0.27) did not differ between treatments. However, with greater space allowance, calves had more frequent standing bouts (22.6 vs. 20.3 bouts/d; 5.6 vs. 3.7 m2/calf; SE = 0.96) of shorter duration. To assess effects of space allowance on within-pen individual variability, we calculated the coefficient of variation for daily activity outcomes at the pen level and intra-class correlation coefficients for hourly standing time, by pen and day. The coefficient of variation for standing behavior outcomes decreased with increasing space allowance, and the intraclass correlation for hourly standing time increased, suggesting that increasing space allowance reduced individual variability and may promote more synchronous rest. Finally, we qualitatively assessed use of pen space using motion heat maps generated using computer vision from video recorded of each pen from 0800 to 1200 h on d 6 and 7 of each experimental period for each pen. These images suggest that calves preferentially used space near the perimeter of the pen, but space was used more uniformly when space allowance is restricted. Overall, these results suggest that lower space allowances may restrict patterns of activity at the pen level and reduce behavioral synchrony.

The behaviour of gestating dairy ewes under different space allowances

Simple SummaryLow space allowance and mixing may affect productive performance in pigs, but it is not clear whether space allowance and mixing interact with each other during the grower-finisher period. In addition, phase feeding is a good strategy used to reduce feed costs and improve feed efficiency, but it may result in nutrient limitations in suboptimal production conditions, e.g., high stress. This study investigated the effect of space allowance, mixing and phase feeding on productive performance of grower-finisher pigs. Three trials were conducted. Space allowance did not affect productive performance in any of the trials. Non-mixed pigs were 5.40 and 5.25 kg heavier than mixed pigs at 21 weeks of age in trial 1 and trial 2. Introducing a second diet with lower lysine/energy ratio from 0.95 to 0.82 g/MJ at 15–16 weeks of age reduced productive performance of pigs by 3.45 and 4.05 kg at 21 weeks of age in trial 1 and trial 2, but not in trial 3 where all pigs were mixed. In conclusion, mixing and reducing lysine/energy ratio from 0.95 to 0.82 g/MJ at 15–16 weeks of age, had a more marked impact on productive performance than a reduction in space allowance from 0.96 to 0.78 m2/pig.This study investigates the effects of space allowance (SA), mixing and phase feeding (PF) on performance of grower-finisher pigs. Three trials (T) were conducted. In T1 and T2, 345 pigs/trial were moved to finisher stage at 11 weeks of age and assigned to two SAs: 0.96 (n = 15 pens; 10 pigs/pen) and 0.78 (n = 15; 13 pigs/pen) m2/pig. Mixing was applied to 5 pens of each SA leading to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (SA × Mixing). For PF, 2 diets with 0.95 and 0.82 g SID Lys/MJ NE were applied to 5 pens of each SA (not mixed) leading to another 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (SA × PF). In T3, 230 pigs were moved to the grower-finisher stage at 11 weeks of age, mixed, and assigned to 4 treatments (SA × PF; n = 5 pens). Data were analyzed using general linear mixed models. SA did not affect performance (p > 0.05). Non-mixed pigs were 5.40 (T1) and 5.25 (T2) kg heavier than mixed pigs at 21 weeks of age (p < 0.001). PF reduced performance of pigs by 3.45 (T1) and 4.05 (T2) kg at 21 weeks of age (p < 0.001). In conclusion, mixing and reducing SID Lys:NE ratio from 0.95 to 0.82 g/MJ at 15–16 weeks of age, have a more marked impact on performance than reducing SA from 0.96 to 0.78 m2/pig.

Temperament effects on performance and adaptability of Nellore young bulls to the feedlot environment

Effects of space allowance on the behaviour and cleanliness of finishing bulls kept in pens with fully slatted rubber coated flooring

The effects of floor space and nest box access on the physiology and behavior of caged laying hens.

Play behaviour in group-housed dairy calves, the effect of space allowance

Excretion and lying are key behavioral factors that cause pen fouling, thereby affecting pig welfare, pathogen fecal–oral transmission, and air quality in pig housing. This study investigated the effect of space allowance and toy provision on the spatiotemporal distribution of pigs’ excreting and lying behavior, as well as the score of floor cleanliness in finishing pig pens. A total of 144 Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc hybrid fattening pigs were randomly assigned to 12 part-slatted pens at stocking densities of 0.75, 1.05, and 1.35 m2/pig with 12 pigs per pen, and 2 pens at each density level were provided with hanging chains and rubber stars as toys. The results showed that for the average daily gain (ADG) of the pigs, the main effect of space allowance was significant (p &lt; 0.05). The ADG at the stocking density level of 1.35 m2/pig was significantly higher than 0.75 and 1.05 m2/pig (p &lt; 0.05). The ADG of the pigs at a density of 0.75 m2/pig in the toys group was significantly higher than the no toys group (p &lt; 0.05). When occupied space was limited, the provision of toys was beneficial to the growth performance of the pigs. Space allowance and toy provision did not affect the time-varying regularity of the pigs but had a certain impact on the areas where the two behaviors occurred. At a density of 1.35 m2/pig, the excreting rate in the corner areas of the slatted floor and the lying rate in the middle area of the solid floor were significantly higher than at a density of 0.75 and 1.05 m2/pig (p &lt; 0.05). Under the conditions of this study, when the stocking density was 1.35 m2/pig and toys were provided, the average daily gain of the pigs was the highest, and the pigs excreted more in the defined excretion area, lay more in the lying area, and the cleanliness of the lying area was also higher. In the case of space constraints, the provision of toys can offset some of the adverse effects of space constraints on pig growth and pen cleanliness.

Effects of space allowance on the behavior and physiology of cattle temporarily managed on rubber mats