Effect of coping strategy and housing system on energy metabolism of breeding gilts

摘要

Effects of coping strategy and housing system (group vs. individual) on energy partitioning of gilts were studied after environmental changes. Thirty-six high resisting (HR) and 36 low resisting (LR) female piglets were selected on the basis of theirresponse in two successive backtests at 10 and 17 days of age. During backtests piglets were restrained in a supine position for sixty seconds and the number of escape attempts was used to classify HR en LR piglets. After weaning, piglets were group-housed in 12 pens with three HR and three LR pigs per pen. From 7 months of age onwards, gilts out of six pens were housed in individual crates; the other gilts remained group-housed. At 13 months of age, in a 2 x 2 factorial design, 24 groups consisting ofthree gilts (HR or LR) were housed in one of four climatic respiration chambers, with housing conditions similar to their previous housing conditions (group or individual), for an experimental period of 7 days. On a weekly basis, heat production parameters were not affected by coping strategy (HR or LR), although differences in heat production (Q) between LR and HR gilts were demonstrated in the course of the experimental period, suggesting differences in adaptation. No effects of treatments were foundin the change of activity heat production (Q_(act)) and activity corrected heat production (Q_(cor)) during this period. Housing system affected Q and Q_(act). Q_(cor) was not affected, indicating that only physical activity raised Q. This higher Q and Q_(act) in individual housed animals were present throughout the day.