Pig

Programming the offspring of the pig by prenatal social stress: Neuroendocrine activity and behavior

This study provides evidence in the pig that stress experienced during gestation has long-lasting effects on offspring daughters, including their maternal behaviour. Thirty-six primiparous sows were divided into control and two groups that were stressed (by social mixing) during either...

Year Published: 2006Animal Type: Pig

Citation: Jarvis S, Moinard C, Robson SK, et al. 2006. Programming the offspring of the pig by prenatal social stress: Neuroendocrine activity and behavior. Hormones & Behavior. 49;68-80.

A playroom as novel swine enrichment

The playroom has been an unqualified boon to our swine facility. Although a devoted playroom has cost some space that might have been used as additional home stalls, the benefits to our animals have far outweighed the costs. The playroom...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Casey, B., Abney, D., Skoumbordis, E. 2007. A playroom as novel swine enrichment. Lab Animal 36(2), 32-34.

A critical review of fear tests used on cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry and horses

Fear is arguably the most commonly investigated emotion in domestic animals. In the current review we attempt to establish the level of repeatability and validity found for fear tests used on cattle, pigs, sheep and goats, poultry and horses. We...

Year Published: 2007Animal Type: Bird, Cattle, Chicken, Equine, Pig, Sheep

Citation: Forkman, B., Boissy, A., Meunier-Sala?n, M. C. et al. 2007. A critical review of fear tests used on cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry and horses. Physiology and Behavior 92, 340-374.

A novel method for lifting weanling pigs in biomedical research: The ventral scoop

The ventral scoop method is less fear-inducing than the vertical lift.

Year Published: 2007Animal Type: Pig

Citation: Dandolos, H. M., Berghaus, R. D., Harvey, S. B. et al. 2007. A novel method for lifting weanling pigs in biomedical research: The ventral scoop. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 50 (Abstract).

Environmental enrichment for pigs

Within the given constraints of single-housing, straw provides optimal species-appropriate enrichment of which pigs do not get bored, because it allows them to engage in rooting, foraging, chewing and playing. Toys are best suspended with chains so that they do...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Environmental enrichment for pigs. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 90-92. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Two novel swine enrichments

We describe 2 novel pen enrichments for swine that promote rooting, gnawing, and scratching behaviors. ..Material costs were $40 .. and both enrichments took less than 1 h to make. ..During the entire [3 months] periods, pigs continued to interactwith...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Glenn, A. S., Watson, J. 2007. Two novel swine enrichments. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 45-46 (Abstract).

Working with animals: Oral drug administration – how to minimize stress reactions for rabbits, rodents and pigs

With gentle firmness, patience and professional skills most warm-blooded animals - with the exception perhaps of mice - can be habituated to tolerate oral dosing. Rabbits, rats and pigs accept most drugs if these are mixed in specially flavored and...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Pig, Rabbit, Rodent

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Working with animals: Oral drug administration - how to minimize stress reactions for rabbits, rodents and pigs. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 124-126. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Effects of pre-weaning exposure to a maze on stress responses in pigs at weaning and on subsequent performance in spatial and fear-related tests

Learning, memory and regulation of the stress response are mediated by the hippocampus. Biologically relevant hippocampal-dependent tasks that develop and integrate cognitive processing of this region may not be available to piglets in some current production systems. Additionally, weaning piglets...

Year Published: 2008Animal Type: Pig

Citation: Siegford JM, Rucker G, Zanella AJ. 2008. Effects of pre-weaning exposure to a maze on stress responses in pigs at weaning and on subsequent performance in spatial and fear-related tests. App Anim Behav Sci. 110;189-202.

The foraging ball as a quick and easy enrichment device for pigs (Sus scrofa)

The simple and effective device was easily incorporated into the daily routines of research facilities, with little disruption to schedules.

Year Published: 2008Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Huntsberry, M. E., Charles, D. C., Adams, K. M. et al. 2008. The foraging ball as a quick and easy enrichment device for pigs (Sus scrofa). Lab Animal 37(9), 411-414.

The influence of age on the use of potential enrichment objects and synchronisation of behaviour of pigs

This experiment aimed to identify how a pig's age affected the extent and synchrony of use of different environmental enrichment materials, and how this use changed over time. Ten diverse novel objects were each presented to three replicate litters of...

Year Published: 2008Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Docking, C. M., Van de Weerd, H. A., Day, J. E. L. et al. 2008. The influence of age on the use of potential enrichment objects and synchronisation of behaviour of pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 110(3-4), 244-257.