Publicação
The effect of regrouping on productive performance, welfare indicators and antimicrobial usage in weaners and growers
| Resumo: | This study aimed to investigate the effects of mixing pigs at weaning on productive performance, welfare indicators (body lesions), and health (antimicrobial use (AMU) and mortality). Data from 576 piglets were analyzed in two trials conducted between March and August 2023 on an experimental farm, using three treatments: intact litters (IL), mixed litters (MX), and mixed litters with hospital treatment (MH) for piglets that required antibiotics. Productive performance, measured by weight gain throughout the growth cycle, showed no significant differences between the groups, with p-value exceeding 0.05 at both weighing periods (44 and 113 days), indicating that litter mixing did not adversely affect weight gain. However, piglets in mixed litters showed a significantly higher incidence of ear lesions within the first 24 hours post-weaning (p < 0.001), a result of increased agonistic behaviors as new social hierarchies were established. Tail biting incidence showed no significant differences among groups (p > 0.05), suggesting that tail biting behaviors may be influenced by factors other than litter mixing, such as environmental enrichment, space allocation, and resource access. In terms of health, no significant differences in antimicrobial use (p > 0.05) or mortality rates (p > 0.05) were observed across treatment groups. This suggests that effective lesion management and appropriate medical care helped control infection risks associated with aggressive interactions. These findings imply that, although litter mixing may initially increase stress and aggression among piglets, these effects are largely temporary and do not significantly impact long-term growth, health, or the need for antimicrobial treatments. The study highlights the potential to implement litter mixing with proper management practices to balance operational efficiency with animal welfare and sustainable production goals |
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| Autores principais: | Fonseca, Cristiana Duarte da |
| Assunto: | Mixing Animal performance Animal welfare Antimicrobials Piglets Mistura Desempenho animal Bem-estar animal Antimicrobiano Leitão |
| Ano: | 2025 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | dissertação de mestrado |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso aberto |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade de Lisboa |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | Repositório da Universidade de Lisboa |
| Resumo: | This study aimed to investigate the effects of mixing pigs at weaning on productive performance, welfare indicators (body lesions), and health (antimicrobial use (AMU) and mortality). Data from 576 piglets were analyzed in two trials conducted between March and August 2023 on an experimental farm, using three treatments: intact litters (IL), mixed litters (MX), and mixed litters with hospital treatment (MH) for piglets that required antibiotics. Productive performance, measured by weight gain throughout the growth cycle, showed no significant differences between the groups, with p-value exceeding 0.05 at both weighing periods (44 and 113 days), indicating that litter mixing did not adversely affect weight gain. However, piglets in mixed litters showed a significantly higher incidence of ear lesions within the first 24 hours post-weaning (p < 0.001), a result of increased agonistic behaviors as new social hierarchies were established. Tail biting incidence showed no significant differences among groups (p > 0.05), suggesting that tail biting behaviors may be influenced by factors other than litter mixing, such as environmental enrichment, space allocation, and resource access. In terms of health, no significant differences in antimicrobial use (p > 0.05) or mortality rates (p > 0.05) were observed across treatment groups. This suggests that effective lesion management and appropriate medical care helped control infection risks associated with aggressive interactions. These findings imply that, although litter mixing may initially increase stress and aggression among piglets, these effects are largely temporary and do not significantly impact long-term growth, health, or the need for antimicrobial treatments. The study highlights the potential to implement litter mixing with proper management practices to balance operational efficiency with animal welfare and sustainable production goals |
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