Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-x4r87 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T17:25:39.630Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Influence of housing and season on pubertal development, boar taint compounds and skin lesions of male pigs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2013

A. Prunier ,
A. Brillouët ,
E. Merlot ,
M. C. Meunier-Salaün  and
C. Tallet
A. Prunier*
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR1348 PEGASE, F-35590 Saint-Gilles, France Agrocampus Ouest, UMR1348 PEGASE, F-35000 Rennes, France
A. Brillouët
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR1348 PEGASE, F-35590 Saint-Gilles, France Agrocampus Ouest, UMR1348 PEGASE, F-35000 Rennes, France
E. Merlot
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR1348 PEGASE, F-35590 Saint-Gilles, France Agrocampus Ouest, UMR1348 PEGASE, F-35000 Rennes, France
M. C. Meunier-Salaün
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR1348 PEGASE, F-35590 Saint-Gilles, France Agrocampus Ouest, UMR1348 PEGASE, F-35000 Rennes, France
C. Tallet
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR1348 PEGASE, F-35590 Saint-Gilles, France Agrocampus Ouest, UMR1348 PEGASE, F-35000 Rennes, France
*
†E-mail: Armelle.Prunier@rennes.inra.fr.
Get access

Abstract

Rearing entire pigs may lead to meat quality and welfare problems in relation to pubertal development. A better knowledge of the sources of variation of pubertal development, behaviour and boar taint is needed before generalizing entire male pigs. From 84 days of age, entire male pigs were reared in groups of 10 either in a conventional (C, 1 m²/animal, slatted floor) or an enriched (E, 2.5 m²/animal, straw bedding, outdoor run) housing during spring or autumn and fed ad libitum (n=10/housing/season). Mounting behaviour was observed for 3 h during the third (M3), fourth (M4) and fifth (M5) months of age. The total number of skin lesions was counted on both sides of the pigs 1 day before the behavioural recordings. The time spent in the outdoor run was also recorded during 3 days per month. The animals were slaughtered at 161±1 days of age (122±9 kg live weight). Blood samples were collected at 89 (M3), 119 (M4) and 152 (M5) days of age and at slaughter for the testosterone and oestradiol measurements. The testes were collected at slaughter, freed from the surrounding tissues and weighed. The fat samples were collected for the androstenone and skatole concentration measurement. Plasma testosterone and oestradiol-17β (oestradiol), fat androstenone and skatole and weight of the testes did not differ between the housing systems. Plasma testosterone (8.3 v. 3.9 nmol/l, P<0.05) and oestradiol (12.0 v. 9.2 pmol/l, P<0.1) at M3, fat skatole (0.124 v. 0.043, P<0.03) and weight of the testes (587 v. 512 g, P<0.05) were higher in the autumn than in the spring trial, suggesting that the pubertal development was accelerated. The number of received mounting behaviours was slightly higher in the autumn (P=0.08) trial and was markedly higher in the E than in the C environment (P<0.003). Skin lesions were more numerous in the C than in the E housing at M4 and M5 and in the spring than in the autumn trial at M3 and M4 (P<0.05). Fat androstenone and the number of performed mounting behaviours were significantly correlated between each other and with numerous indicators of the pubertal development (P<0.05). The number of skin lesions was correlated with plasma testosterone and live weight (P<0.05). Overall, this study suggests the effect of season on sexual development, the effect of the housing system on behaviour, and demonstrates the links between sexual hormones, behaviour and boar taint.

Keywords

pigseasonhousingtestosteroneandrostenone
Type
Behaviour, welfare and health
Information
animal , Volume 7 , Issue 12 , December 2013 , pp. 2035 - 2043
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Allrich, RD, Christenson, RK, Ford, JJ and Zimmerman, DR 1982. Pubertal development of the boar: testosterone, estradiol-17β, cortisol and LH concentrations before and after castration at various ages. Journal of Animal Science 55, 1139–1146.Google Scholar
Andersson, H, Rydhmer, L, Lundstrom, K, Wallgren, M, Andersson, K and Forsberg, M 1998. Influence of artificial light regimens on sexual maturation and boar taint in entire male pigs. Animal Reproduction Science 51, 31–43.Google Scholar
Batorek, N, Škrlep, M, Prunier, A, Louveau, I, Noblet, J, Bonneau, M and Čandek-Potokar, M 2012. Effect of feed restriction on hormones, performance, carcass traits, and meat quality in immunocastrated pigs. Journal of Animal Science 90, 4593–4603.Google Scholar
Baumgartner, J, Laister, S, Koller, M, Pfutzner, A, Grodzycki, M, Andrews, S and Schmoll, F 2010. The behaviour of male fattening pigs following either surgical castration or vaccination with a GnRF vaccine. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 124, 28–34.Google Scholar
Berger, T, Mahone, JP, Svoboda, GS, Metz, KW and Clegg, ED 1980. Sexual maturation of boars and growth of swine exposed to extended photoperiod during decreasing natural photoperiod. Journal of Animal Science 51, 672–678.Google Scholar
Bilandzic, N, Simic, B and Kmetic, I 2012. Effect of three-day ACTH administration on concentrations of cholesterol, cortisol, progesterone, testosterone and LH in the boars. Slovenian Veterinary Research 49, 123–132.Google Scholar
Bonneau, M, Meusydessolle, N, Leglise, PC and Claus, R 1982. Relationships between fat and plasma androstenone and plasma testosterone in fatty and lean young boars during growth and after hCG stimulation. Acta Endocrinologica 101, 119–128.Google Scholar
Claus, R, Schopper, D and Wagner, HG 1983. Seasonal effects on steroids in blood plasma and seminal plasma of boars. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry 19, 725–729.Google Scholar
Cronin, GM, Dunshea, FR, Butler, KL, McCauley, I, Barnett, JL and Hemsworth, P 2003. The effects of immuno- and surgical-castration on the behaviour and consequently growth of group-housed, male finisher pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 81, 111–126.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
de Weerd, HAv and Day, JEL 2009. A review of environmental enrichment for pigs housed in intensive housing systems. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 116, 1–20.Google Scholar
EFSA 2004. Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Animal Health and Welfare on a request from the Commission related to welfare aspects of the castration of piglets. The EFSA Journal 91, 1–18.Google Scholar
Fredriksen, B, Lium, BM, Marka, CH, Mosveen, B and Nafstad, O 2008. Entire male pigs in farrow-to-finish pens – effects on animal welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 110, 258–268.Google Scholar
Fredriksen, B, Lium, BM, Marka, CH, Heier, BT, Dahl, E, Choinski, JU and Nafstad, O 2006. Entire male pigs in a farrow-to-finish system. Effects on androstenone and skatole. Livestock Science 102, 146–154.Google Scholar
Giersing, M, Lundstrom, K and Andersson, A 2000. Social effects and boar taint: significance for production of slaughter boars (Sus scrofa). Journal of Animal Science 78, 296–305.Google Scholar
Grindflek, E, Meuwissen, THE, Aasmundstad, T, Hamland, H, Hansen, MHS, Nome, T, Kent, M, Torjesen, P and Lien, S 2011. Revealing genetic relationships between compounds affecting boar taint and reproduction in pigs. Journal of Animal Science 89, 680–692.Google Scholar
Hansen, LL, Larsen, AE and Hansenmoller, J 1995. Influence of keeping pigs heavily fouled with feces plus urine on skatole and indole concentration (boar taint) insubcutaneous fat. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section a-Animal Science 45, 178–185.Google Scholar
Hay, M, Vulin, A, Génin, S, Sales, P and Prunier, A 2003. Assessment of pain induced by castration in piglets: behavioral and physiological responses over the subsequent 5 days. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 82, 201–218.Google Scholar
Hemsworth, PH and Tilbrook, AJ 2007. Sexual behavior of male pigs. Hormones and Behavior 52, 39–44.Google Scholar
Lee, KH, Diekman, MA, Moss, GE and Allrich, RD 1987. Pituitary gonadotropins, hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone, and testicular traits of boars exposed to natural or supplemental lighting during pubertal development. Biology of Reproduction 36, 1164–1169.Google Scholar
Liptrap, RM and Raeside, JI 1978. A relationship between plasma concentrations of testosterone and corticosteroids during sexual and aggressive behaviour in the boar. Journal of Endocrinology 76, 75–85.Google Scholar
Lundstrom, K, Malmfors, B, Malmfors, G, Stern, S, Petersson, H, Mortensen, AB and Sorensen, SE 1988. Skatole, androstenone and boart in boars fed 2 different diets. Livestock Production Science 18, 55–67.Google Scholar
Martin, TE, Baker, B Jr, Miller, HW and Kellogg, TF 1984. Circulating androgen levels in the developing boar. Theriogenology 21, 357–365.Google Scholar
Mauget, R and Boissin, J 1987. Seasonal changes in testis weight and testosterone concentration in the European wild boar (Sus scrofa L.). Animal Reproduction Science 13, 67–74.Google Scholar
Olesen, LS, Nygaard, CM, Friend, TH, Bushong, D, Knabe, DA, Vestergaard, KS and Vaughan, RK 1996. Effect of partitioning pens on aggressive behavior of pigs regrouped at weaning. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 46, 167–174.Google Scholar
Patterson, RLS and Lightfoot, AL 1984. Effect of sex grouping during growth on 5-alpha androstenone development in boars at 3 commercial slaughter weights. Meat Science 10, 253–263.Google Scholar
Prunier, A, Caritez, JC and Bonneau, M 1987. Genital tract developement and 5-alpha androstenone concentration pattern during growth in male and female pigs of European and Chinese breeds. Annales De Zootechnie 36, 49–58.Google Scholar
Prunier, A, Mounier, AM and Hay, M 2005. Effects of castration, tooth resection, or tail docking on plasma metabolites and stress hormones in young pigs. Journal of Animal Science 83, 216–222.Google Scholar
Rydhmer, L, Zamaratskaia, G, Andersson, HK, Algers, B, Guillemet, R and Lundstrom, K 2006. Aggressive and sexual behaviour of growing and finishing pigs reared in groups, without castration. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section A, Animal Science 56, 109–119.Google Scholar
Soma, KK, Scotti, MAL, Newman, AEM, Charlier, TD and Demas, GE 2008. Novel mechanisms for neuroendocrine regulation of aggression. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology 29, 476–489.Google Scholar
Tallet, C, Brillouet, A, Meunier-Salaün, MC, Paulmier, V, Guérin, C and Prunier, A 2013. Effects of neonatal castration on social behaviour, human-animal relationship and feeding activity in finishing pigs reared in a conventional or an enriched housing. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 145, 70–83.Google Scholar
Turner, SP, Farnworth, MJ, White, IMS, Brotherstone, S, Mendl, M, Knap, P, Penny, P and Lawrence, AB 2006. The accumulation of skin lesions and their use as a predictor of individual aggressiveness in pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 96, 245–259.Google Scholar
Van de Weerd, HA and Day, JEL 2009. A review of environmental enrichment for pigs housed in intensive housing systems. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 116, 1–20.Google Scholar
von Borell, E, Baumgartner, J, Giersing, M, Jäggin, N, Prunier, A, Tuyttens, FAM and Edwards, SA 2009. Animal welfare implications of surgical castration and its alternatives in pigs. Animal 3, 1488–1496.Google Scholar
Weiler, U, Claus, R, Dehnhard, M and Hofacker, S 1996. Influence of the photoperiod and a light reverse program on metabolically active hormones and food intake in domestic pigs compared with a wild boar. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 76, 531–539.Google Scholar
Zamaratskaia, G and Squires, EJ 2009. Biochemical, nutritional and genetic effects on boar taint in entire male pigs. Animal 3, 1508–1521.Google Scholar
Zamaratskaia, G, Babol, J, Andersson, H and Lundstrom, K 2004. Plasma skatole and androstenone levels in entire male pigs and relationship between boar taint compounds, sex steroids and thyroxine at various ages. Livestock Production Science 87, 91–98.Google Scholar
Zamaratskaia, G, Babol, J, Andersson, HK, Andersson, K and Lundstrom, K 2005. Effect of live weight and dietary supplement of raw potato starch on the levels of skatole, androstenone, testosterone and oestrone sulphate in entire male pigs. Livestock Production Science 93, 235–243.Google Scholar