| Hormonal profiles, behavioral responses, and short-term growth performance after castration of pigs at three, six, nine, or twelve days of age. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 16612032 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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The objective of this study was to determine the effects of castration on short-term growth performance, hormone profiles, and behavior in pigs at 3, 6, 9, or 12 d of age. Ninety intact male pigs were assigned randomly to a treatment age by litter [3, 6, 9, or 12 d of age; n = 9 to 13 pigs per treatment (age) group]. Pigs within a single litter were then assigned to noncastrated (NC) or castrated (CAS) treatment groups according to BW. Pigs were nonsurgically fitted with jugular catheters, and blood samples were drawn immediately before castration (0 h) and at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 24, and 48 h after castration. Body weights were obtained when pigs were catheterized and again at 24 and 48 h after castration. Serum samples were analyzed for cortisol, porcine corticosteroid-binding globulin, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S). No differences were detected in initial BW of pigs, and there was no overall treatment effect on growth performance of pigs at 24 or 48 h posttreatment. A time x treatment interaction was detected (P < 0.01) for serum cortisol concentrations, such that cortisol was greater in CAS pigs than in NC pigs. No overall effect of age at castration was observed on cortisol concentrations. At 24 h after castration, serum cortisol concentrations returned to baseline in all treatment groups; however, at 48 h after castration, overall cortisol concentrations were elevated (P < 0.01) in the 6-, 9-, and 12-d-old pigs in both the CAS and NC groups compared with baseline concentrations. Total cortisol and porcine corticosteroid-binding globulin were used to calculate the free cortisol index (FCI). A time x treatment interaction was observed (P < 0.01) for FCI, such that FCI was greater in CAS males than in NC males. The FCI was also affected by age (P < 0.01). There was a time x treatment x age interaction (P < 0.01) for serum DHEA-S, such that DHEA-S concentrations decreased in CAS animals but increased in NC animals, and DHEA-S concentrations increased with age. During the first 2 h after castration, there was an overall age effect (P = 0.01) on the time that pigs spent standing, such that 3-d-old pigs stood more than 6-, 9-, or 12-d-old pigs. Treatment did not influence the time that pigs spent nursing, lying, standing, or sitting, although there was a trend (P = 0.08) for CAS pigs to be less active than NC pigs. These data indicate that castration is stressful regardless of age; however, the stress associated with handling seems to increase as pigs age. |
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Authors:
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J A Carroll; E L Berg; T A Strauch; M P Roberts; H G Kattesh |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of animal science Volume: 84 ISSN: 1525-3163 ISO Abbreviation: J. Anim. Sci. Publication Date: 2006 May |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2006-04-13 Completed Date: 2006-10-19 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 8003002 Medline TA: J Anim Sci Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 1271-8 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Livestock Issues Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service-USDA, Lubbock, TX 79403, USA. jacarroll@lbk.ars.usda.gov |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Aging
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blood*,
physiology* Animals Behavior, Animal Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / blood Hormones / blood* Hydrocortisone / blood Male Orchiectomy / veterinary* Swine / blood*, growth & development* Time Factors Transcortin / metabolism |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Hormones; 50-23-7/Hydrocortisone; 651-48-9/Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; 9010-38-2/Transcortin |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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