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The Effect of Early Life Experiences on the Welfare and Performance of Farmed Animals

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A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Welfare".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2021) | Viewed by 40705

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Dr. Keelin O'Driscoll

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Pig Development Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy Co. Cork. P61 C997, Ireland
Interests: animal health; animal production systems; animal welfare and stress; pigs
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Dear Colleagues,

It is increasingly understood that early life experiences, whether pre- or post-natal, can have long-lasting effects on an animals’ behaviour and physiology. Maternal stress can expose the foetus to changes to the mother’s hormone and immune status and have a long-term negative effect on offspring behaviour, health and growth. In farmed animals, breeding females often undergo stressful husbandry and management procedures. Moreover, sometimes they are not fed to appetite (e.g., sows), experience chronic health disorders (e.g., lameness) or may experience periods of feed deprivation due to environmental reasons (e.g., pasture fed dairy cows), which can contribute an additional layer of chronic stress.

With regard to post-natal early life experiences, farmed animals often experience painful procedures shortly after birth (e.g., castration, tail docking of piglets), which can affect their reaction to pain for the rest of their lives. Like their mothers, they also often experience stressful husbandry procedures (e.g., mixing with older animals, transport). They are often weaned earlier, and more abruptly, than they would if not under human management; in addition to experiencing the stress of weaning, lack of, or poor, maternal care is a risk factor for behavioural disorders later in life and can affect the animals’ cognitive abilities.

Many of the practices which can contribute to a negative early life experience evolved for farm efficiency reasons, prior to their long-lasting effects being fully understood. It is becoming apparent that as well as promoting good welfare (a ‘life worth living’), strategies to minimise these negative experiences could actually contribute to improved performance and resilience of animals in agricultural systems. This Special Issue welcomes submissions, including reviews or original research studies, on the topic of how early life experiences can affect the welfare and performance of farmed animals.

Dr. Keelin O'Driscoll
Guest Editor

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Keywords

pre-natal stress
early life experience
husbandry
maternal nutrition

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 1051 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Like Mother Like Child: Do Fearful Sows Have Fearful Piglets?

by Hazel B. Rooney, Oceane Schmitt, Alexandra Courty, Peadar G. Lawlor and Keelin O’Driscoll

Animals 2021, 11(5), 1232; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11051232 - 24 Apr 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2808

Abstract

Gestational and early life experiences affect subsequent behavioural and physical development. The objective of the current study was to investigate associations between gilts’ fear of humans, gestational stress level, and feeding and maternal behaviour, as well as how these related to aspects of the personality and growth of their offspring. A total of 37 gilts were used. Four human approach tests were performed between d 104 and d 111 of gestation to classify gilts as fearful or friendly. Gilt feeding behaviour and salivary cortisol concentration was measured between d 90 and d 108 of gestation, and gilt nursing behaviour assessed at d 13 of lactation. Piglets were subject to a back test at d 13 of age, to an open field test and a human approach test at d 20 of age, and growth was monitored to weaning (d 26 of age). Gilts classified as having a fearful behavioural profile had higher cortisol levels than friendly gilts (p < 0.05). Human fear level did not affect reproductive performance or the growth of offspring (p > 0.05). The offspring of friendly gilts tended to have a more active response to the back test (p = 0.09), less freezing response in the open field test (p < 0.05), and received human contact more than piglets from fearful gilts (p < 0.05). The present study shows that gilt human fear level is linked to their stress levels, which can affect the personality of their piglets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Early Life Experiences on the Welfare and Performance of Farmed Animals)

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19 pages, 4210 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Freedom to Grow: Improving Sow Welfare also Benefits Piglets

by Orla Kinane, Fidelma Butler and Keelin O’Driscoll

Animals 2021, 11(4), 1181; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11041181 - 20 Apr 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5753

Abstract

Piglet mortality, especially due to crushing, is a concern in pig production. While current systems use farrowing crates to reduce mortality, they present major animal welfare problems for the sow. This study investigated the effects of free lactation farrowing accommodation on the welfare of piglets born and reared in such accommodation when compared with conventional farrowing crates. Piglets were born to sows in one of two farrowing accommodation treatments and followed from birth to slaughter. Treatments were conventional farrowing crates (control, n = 24 litters) and free lactation pens, which were larger and allowed the sow freedom of movement both pre and post farrowing, (free, n = 22 litters) (675 total piglets). Individual weights were recorded from birth to slaughter. Hoof score was recorded at weaning. Behaviour was recorded during lactation and during the weaner stage. Pre-weaning percentage mortality was equal in treatments (free = 15.95 ± 2.31, control = 14.42 ± 2.15, p = 0.61). Final weight was influenced by treatment (p < 0.05) with pigs from free lactation pens significantly heavier at 114.73 kg compared to 110.82 kg for control pigs. Free pigs took fewer days than control pigs to reach the target weight of 105 kg (147.6 vs. 149.23 days). Throughout lactation, fewer instances of damaging behaviour (ear and tail biting) were observed in free pigs (p = 0.07). Improved growth rates and a decrease in damaging behaviours provide evidence to suggest that pigs from free lactation pens experience improved welfare when compared with control pigs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Early Life Experiences on the Welfare and Performance of Farmed Animals)

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10 pages, 1098 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Stress during Commercial Hatchery Processing Induces Long-Time Negative Cognitive Judgement Bias in Chickens

by Louise Hedlund, Tiphaine Palazon and Per Jensen

Animals 2021, 11(4), 1083; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11041083 - 10 Apr 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3261

Abstract

Worldwide, billions of laying hen chicks are incubated and processed under highly industrialised circumstances every year, which, as we have previously shown, has long-lasting effects. Here, we measured corticosterone incorporated in down feathers to investigate possible stress during the incubation and showed that commercially incubated chicks did not have elevated levels of feather corticosterone, which implies that the main part of the stress effects from hatchery originates from the perinatal period and the handling immediately post-hatch. Further, we investigated how the early hatchery stress affects the chicks’ cognitive welfare state, i.e., “optimism” and “pessimism”. We exposed commercially hatched chickens to a positive cue, an aversive cue and ambiguous cues. The birds were tested at 1 and 10 w of age and the behaviour was compared with that of non-stressed chicks. Latencies to approach ambiguous cues were longer for the stressed chicks, both at 1 (p = 0.008) and at 10 (p = 0.020) weeks of age, i.e., these showed a more pessimistic-like behaviour. We conclude that the main part of the stress effects in commercially hatched chicks originates in the perinatal period, and further, that these birds show lasting levels of increased pessimism. This strongly indicates a long-time poorer welfare state for the animals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Early Life Experiences on the Welfare and Performance of Farmed Animals)

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20 pages, 1328 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biochemistry and Immune Biomarkers Indicate Interacting Effects of Pre- and Postnatal Stressors in Pigs across Sexes

by Haley E. Rymut, Laurie A. Rund, Courtni R. Bolt, María B. Villamil, Diane E. Bender, Bruce R. Southey, Rodney W. Johnson and Sandra L. Rodriguez-Zas

Animals 2021, 11(4), 987; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11040987 - 1 Apr 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2720

Abstract

The effects of maternal immune activation (MIA) elicited by a prenatal stressor and postnatal metabolic or immune stressors on chemical and inflammatory biomarkers were studied in male and female pigs. Pigs exposed to MIA elicited by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and matching controls were assigned at two months of age to fasting stress, immune stress, or a saline group. The serum levels of over 30 chemistry and immune analytes were studied. Significantly low levels of blood urea nitrogen were detected in females exposed to MIA, while the highest creatinine levels were identified in fasting females exposed to MIA. The levels of interferon gamma and interleukin 8 were highest in pigs exposed to postnatal immune challenge. The profiles suggest that MIA may sensitize pigs to postnatal stressors for some indicators while making them more tolerant of other stressors. Effectiveness of practices to ameliorate the impact of postnatal stressors on the physiology of the pig could be enhanced by considering the prenatal stress circumstances. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Early Life Experiences on the Welfare and Performance of Farmed Animals)

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19 pages, 1163 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Maternal High Stocking Density during the Dry Period on Dairy Calf Health, Behaviour, and Welfare

by Mayumi Fujiwara, Marie J. Haskell, Alastair I. Macrae and Kenneth M. D. Rutherford

Animals 2020, 10(6), 922; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10060922 - 26 May 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2771

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of maternal stocking density during late pregnancy (approximately 60 ± 4 days before calving) on offspring performance during the pre-weaning period. Forty-five dairy calves were born to cows that went through either industry minimum standards (H: n = 24, high stocking density) or more extensive space allowances (L: n = 21, low stocking density) during the dry period. Body weight and average daily gain during the pre-weaning period (day 1–49) were measured. Observations were made of: (i) activity levels (day 2–6); ii) the level of training required to use an automatic feeder, and behavioural reactions to the group environment (d7); (iii) feeding and social behaviour in the group pen (day 7–21); and (iv) responses to weaning (day 40–49) and disbudding (day 28+). Compared to L calves, H calves made more frequent social contacts with pen mates in the group pen (p = 0.003) and decreased their lying time around weaning (p = 0.045). Among the healthy calves, L calves displayed more severe behavioural reactions to the disbudding procedure (p < 0.001), a significant increase in salivary cortisol concentrations (p = 0.013), and more frequent pain-related behaviour (p = 0.036). This study indicated associations between maternal stocking density during late pregnancy and some welfare-relevant offspring outcomes during the pre-weaning period; these effects were found to be modulated by offspring health status. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Early Life Experiences on the Welfare and Performance of Farmed Animals)

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43 pages, 1581 KiB

Open AccessReview

Management and Feeding Strategies in Early Life to Increase Piglet Performance and Welfare around Weaning: A Review

by Laia Blavi, David Solà-Oriol, Pol Llonch, Sergi López-Vergé, Susana María Martín-Orúe and José Francisco Pérez

Animals 2021, 11(2), 302; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020302 - 25 Jan 2021

Cited by 58 | Viewed by 15919

Abstract

The performance of piglets in nurseries may vary depending on body weight, age at weaning, management, and pathogenic load in the pig facilities. The early events in a pig’s life are very important and may have long lasting consequences, since growth lag involves a significant cost to the system due to reduced market weights and increased barn occupancy. The present review evidences that there are several strategies that can be used to improve the performance and welfare of pigs at weaning. A complex set of early management and dietary strategies have been explored in sows and suckling piglets for achieving optimum and efficient growth of piglets after weaning. The management strategies studied to improve development and animal welfare include: (1) improving sow housing during gestation, (2) reducing pain during farrowing, (3) facilitating an early and sufficient colostrum intake, (4) promoting an early social interaction between litters, and (5) providing complementary feed during lactation. Dietary strategies for sows and suckling piglets aim to: (1) enhance fetal growth (arginine, folate, betaine, vitamin B₁₂, carnitine, chromium, and zinc), (2) increase colostrum and milk production (DL-methionine, DL-2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid, arginine, L-carnitine, tryptophan, valine, vitamin E, and phytogenic actives), (3) modulate sows’ oxidative and inflammation status (polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, selenium, phytogenic actives, and spray dried plasma), (4) allow early microbial colonization (probiotics), or (5) supply conditionally essential nutrients (nucleotides, glutamate, glutamine, threonine, and tryptophan). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Early Life Experiences on the Welfare and Performance of Farmed Animals)

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23 pages, 312 KiB

Open AccessReview

Preparing for Life After Birth: Introducing the Concepts of Intrauterine and Extrauterine Sensory Entrainment in Mammalian Young

by David J. Mellor

Animals 2019, 9(10), 826; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9100826 - 18 Oct 2019

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 6059

Abstract

Presented is an updated understanding of the development of sensory systems in the offspring of a wide range of terrestrial mammals, the prenatal exposure of those systems to salient stimuli, and the mechanisms by which that exposure can embed particular sensory capabilities that prepare newborns to respond appropriately to similar stimuli they may encounter after birth. Taken together, these are the constituents of the phenomenon of “trans-natal sensory continuity” where the embedded sensory capabilities are considered to have been “learnt” and, when accessed subsequently, they are said to have been “remembered”. An alternative explanation of trans-natal sensory continuity is provided here in order to focus on the mechanisms of “embedding” and “accessing” instead of the potentially more subjectively conceived outcomes of “learning” and “memory”. Thus, the mechanistic concept of “intrauterine sensory entrainment” has been introduced, its foundation being the well-established neuroplastic capability of nervous systems to respond to sensory inputs by reorganising their neural structures, functions, and connections. Five conditions need to be met before “trans-natal sensory continuity” can occur. They are (1) sufficient neurological maturity to support minimal functional activity in specific sensory receptor systems in utero; (2) the presence of sensory stimuli that activate their aligned receptors before birth; (3) the neurological capability for entrained functions within specific sensory modalities to be retained beyond birth; (4) specific sensory stimuli that are effective both before and after birth; and (5) a capability to detect those stimuli when or if they are presented after birth in ways that differ (e.g., in air) from their presentation via fluid media before birth. Numerous beneficial outcomes of this process have been reported for mammalian newborns, but the range of benefits depends on how many of the full set of sensory modalities are functional at the time of birth. Thus, the breadth of sensory capabilities may be extensive, somewhat restricted, or minimal in offspring that are, respectively, neurologically mature, moderately immature, or exceptionally immature at birth. It is noted that birth marks a transition from intrauterine sensory entrainment to extrauterine sensory entrainment in all mammalian young. Depending on their neurological maturity, extrauterine entrainment contributes to the continuing maturation of the different sensory systems that are operational at birth, the later development and maturation of the systems that are absent at birth, and the combined impact of those factors on the behaviour of newborn and young mammals. Intrauterine sensory entrainment helps to prepare mammalian young for life immediately after birth, and extrauterine sensory entrainment continues this process until all sensory modalities develop full functionality. It is apparent that, overall, extrauterine sensory entrainment and its aligned neuroplastic responses underlie numerous postnatal learning and memory events which contribute to the maturation of all sensory capabilities that eventually enable mammalian young to live autonomously. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Early Life Experiences on the Welfare and Performance of Farmed Animals)

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