Behavior and handling of physically and immunologically castrated market pigs on farm and going to market.

摘要: Physical castration is a common man- agement practice on commercial swine farms in the United States to reduce incidence of boar taint and aggressive behavior. One alternative physical castra- tion (PC) immunologically castrate (IC) male pigs by blocking gonadotropin-releasing factor (GnRF), thereby reducing levels LH, FSH, testosterone, androstenone. The objectives this study were eval- uate effects IC pig behavior, human-pig inter- actions, handling during after transport. Pigs given first immunization at wk 7 grower- finisher period, second immunizations 11, 13, or 14 grower-finisher period. Behav- iors PC barrows sampled 3 time points entering finishing 9 age: before injection, 16 (after was complete) into finishing, 1 d marketing (16 19 finishing). Handling loading unloading trailers going market also quantified. Before intact males showed increased aggression (P = 0.014) mounting 0.048), whereas bar- rows spent more 0.003) feeding than males. There treatment × interactions for lying 0.018), < 0.001), standing 0.009) behaviors. Few differences observed pig-human between barrows, with approaching people same amount time, but 0.001) aggres- sive chewing rubbing test person's pant leg boots. When process- ing home barn, 0.05) vocal barrows. Fewer dead down among (0%) compared (1.17%). Immunological may result similar improved animal welfare stress without pain relief.