Effect Of Straw Bedding Research Articles

Physiometabolic responses to road transport in weaned piglets for a short period and the effects of straw bedding.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the physiometabolic responses to stress in hybrid suckling piglets that were weaned and transported at different ages on a paved road under two vehicle conditions: with and without a layer of straw bedding. The piglets were weaned and transported at the following ages: 8, 15 and 22 days. The duration of each trip was 1 h. The piglets in each group were further divided into two sub-groups for two distinct experimental transport conditions: (1) over the road with straw bedding; and (2) over the same road but without straw bedding. A total of three repetitions were performed for each experimental condition. In order to assess their responses to weaning- and transport-induced stress, the study evaluated a thorough physiometabolic blood profile. The 8- and 15-day-old piglets transported without straw bedding showed increases in their pCO2, blood glucose, blood lactate levels and the percentage of hematocrit, but a decrease of pO2 upon arrival (P < 0.05). In contrast, the 22-day-old piglets transported on the same road with straw bedding were able to re-establish their blood concentrations of lactate, pCO2, pO2, Na+, K+, Ca2+ and pH during the trip (P < 0.05).

Effects of straw bedding and high fibre diets on the behaviour of floor fed group-housed sows

In group feeding systems, competition over access to food may be heightened by food restriction, as hungry sows remain active and motivated to feed. The behavioural effects of food restriction may be mitigated by satisfying feeding motivation more effectively or by providing sows with a substrate with which to express their foraging behaviour. Twenty groups of seven multiparous sows were used in a 2×2 factorial design to investigate the effects on behaviour of floor feeding sows the same daily weight of iso-energetic conventional (C) or high fibre (H; containing 600 g of unmolassed sugar beet pulp per kilogram of diet) pregnancy diets in strawed (S) or un-strawed (N) pens. Observations were conducted from the start of feeding for 2 h (0900–1100 h) and for 2 h in the afternoon (1300–1500 h). Sows on S treatments received more aggressive interactions ( P<0.01) and were displaced from the feeding area more frequently ( P<0.001) than sows on N treatments. S sows also spent more time standing during the feeding period ( P<0.001) than N sows, which appeared to account for the difference in the level of aggression observed. No improvement was found, in overall levels of aggression, in feeding sows the H diet, although damage to the vulva was significantly lower in H ( P<0.05) than C-fed sows. The presence of straw in the pen reduced the level of pen component manipulation and non-manipulative oral behaviours, during both observation periods. H-fed sows spent less time manipulating substrates during the afternoon observation period ( P<0.05) than C-fed sows, due to an increase in the time spent inactive ( P<0.05). While feeding sows in un-strawed pens may limit aggression in competitive feeding systems, providing sows with access to straw may reduce excessive levels of pen-directed behaviours. Feeding sows diets which are high in dietary fibre may reduce behaviours associated with a lack of satisfaction of feeding motivation, suggesting that there may be welfare benefits associated with feeding sows high fibre diets, although not necessarily in competitive feeding systems.

Straw Bedding or Concrete Floor for Loose-housed Pregnant Sows: Consequences for Aggression, Production and Physical Health

The effect of straw bedding on aggression, production and welfare in loose-housed, pregnant sows was studied in 14 commercial farms, half of them with straw bedding and the other half with a concrete floor. The herds were visited twice and agonistic behaviour was observed. Body lesions, movement disorders and production results were also recorded. There were no significant differences in aggression, body lesions or production results between herds with concrete floor and herds with straw bedding. Movement disorders were more common in herds with concrete floor than in herds with straw bedding. Herds with a high score for movement disorders tended to have a higher percentage of sows returning to oestrus than herds with a low score. Individual data showed no significant correlation between production variables and body lesion score. However, the sows that were culled had a higher mean score for body lesions than the means of both types of farms. Altogether, this study shows that straw bedding was advantageous in preventing leg problems, but the presence of straw did not affect the aggression among sows, the incidence of body lesions or the production results.

Effects of strawbedding on physiological responses to stressors and behavior in growing pigs

DE JONG, I. C., E. D. EKKEL, J. A. VAN DE BURGWAL, E. LAMBOOIJ, S. M. KORTE, M. A. W. RUIS, J. M. KOOLHAAS AND H. J. BLOKHUIS. Effects of strawbedding on physiological responses to stressors and behavior in growing pigs. PHYSIOL BEHAV 64(3) 303–310, 1998.—To study the effects of environmental enrichment on physiological responses to stressors and behavior in growing pigs, pigs were housed in either a poor environment (standard farrowing pens followed by standard rearing and fattening pens) or in an enriched environment (larger farrowing pens followed by larger rearing and fattening pens, provision of straw). Body temperature, heart rate and salivary cortisol were measured during baseline conditions and in response to relocation, isolation and restraint. Pigs housed in the poor environment performed more manipulative social behavior directed to penmates than pigs housed in the enriched environment. Physiological responses to the stressors were the same for enriched- and poor-housed pigs. Surprisingly, enriched-housed pigs had significantly higher baseline salivary cortisol concentrations, especially at 14 and 17 weeks of age. Moreover, enriched housed pigs had a lower baseline body temperature at 17 weeks of age. Thus, provision of straw has an effect on behavior, baseline HPA-axis activity and baseline body temperature in growing pigs.

The effects of straw bedding on the feeding and social behaviour of growing pigs fed by means of single-space feeders

Single-space feeders used in pig selection may favour those pigs which control access to the feeder. This was not the case when straw bedding was provided (Nielsen et al. 1995). However, straw may have modified behaviour and masked the effects of aggression. Therefore an experiment was conducted to examine the influence of straw bedding on behaviour and performance of pigs fed via a single-space feeder. The food intake, growth rate, feeding and social behaviour of 8 pens of 10 pigs (start weight 40 kg) with or without straw (4 pens/treatment) were recorded over a period of 35 days. Food was supplied by one single-space computerised feeder in each pen and this equipment provided records of feeding behaviour. Social behaviour and activity was observed by video recording on two occasions in week 2 and week 4 of the experiment. Each pen had an enclosed kennel. The provision of straw increased the number of visits to the feeder (13.11 vs. 9.22; P<0.05) and these were of a shorter duration (4.34 vs. 6.18 min; P<0.05). The pigs on straw had a higher growth rate than those without (803 vs. 741 g/d; P<0.05). Pigs with straw had a lower proportion of observations in the kennel (0.470 vs. 0.683; P<0.001) and spent less observations lying (0.765 vs. 0.806; P<0.05). The number of aggressive incidents initiated was higher with straw (14.8 vs. 8.8; P<0.05). The modified feeding pattern with straw may have been due to a higher general level of activity or a combined effect of low ambient temperature and the position of the feeder relative to the kennel. Thus this effect of straw may be confined to cold environments.

Levels of aggression in floor fed sows: effects of straw bedding and high fibre diets

In competitive feeding systems in which sows are group rather than individually fed, aggression can arise as sows compete for limited supplies of food (Csermely and Wood-Gush, 1990). Aggression may also occur as a result of sows’ motivation to feed remaining unsatisfied due to restricted access to food (Buré, 1991). Feeding sows a high fibre diet which will rapidly increase gastric distention (Brouns et al., 1997) may reduce both the motivation to compete for food and aggression associated with sustained feeding motivation. Sows provided with straw bedding may use straw as a foraging substrate with which to express their foraging behaviour. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the interactive effects of a high fibre diet and straw bedding on levels of aggression in floor fed sows.

Levels of aggression in floor fed sows: effects of straw bedding and high fibre diets

In competitive feeding systems in which sows are group rather than individually fed, aggression can arise as sows compete for limited supplies of food (Csermely and Wood-Gush, 1990). Aggression may also occur as a result of sows’ motivation to feed remaining unsatisfied due to restricted access to food (Buré, 1991). Feeding sows a high fibre diet which will rapidly increase gastric distention (Brouns et al., 1997) may reduce both the motivation to compete for food and aggression associated with sustained feeding motivation. Sows provided with straw bedding may use straw as a foraging substrate with which to express their foraging behaviour. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the interactive effects of a high fibre diet and straw bedding on levels of aggression in floor fed sows.

The effect of straw bedding on the behaviour of sows and their newborn piglets

E-learning is a web-based learning ecosystem for the dissemination of information, communication, and knowledge for education and training. Understanding the impact of e-learning on society, as well as its benefits, is important to link e-learning systems to their success drivers. The aim of this study is to find the determinants of user perceived satisfaction, use, and individual impact of e-learning. This study proposes a theoretical model integrating theories of information systems' satisfaction and success in the e-learning systems. The model was empirically validated in higher education institutions and university centers in Brazil through a quantitative method of structural equation modeling. Collaboration quality, information quality, and user perceived satisfaction explain e-learning use. The drivers of user perceived satisfaction are information quality, system quality, instructor attitude toward e-learning, diversity in assessment, and learner perceived interaction with others. System quality, use, and user perceived satisfaction explain individual impact.

Effect of straw bedding, crude protein content of cereals and of latitude in balancing daily rations of growing pigs

SUMMARYResults of a co-ordinated trial carried out at twenty centres indicated that performance of growing pigs (20–90 kg) was not affected by straw bedding in pens, or by small differences in the protein content of barley meal which was used as the main cereal in the diet. Also, no adverse effects were observed when cereals only were fed in the morning and an appropriately balanced compound mixture was fed in the afternoon.