Associations between gastrointestinal-tract function and the stress response after weaning in pigs
J. R. Pluske A B , D. W. Miller A , S. O. Sterndale A and D. L. Turpin A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Agricultural Sciences, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: J.Pluske@murdoch.edu.au
Animal Production Science 59(11) 2015-2022 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN19279
Submitted: 13 May 2019 Accepted: 10 July 2019 Published: 16 September 2019
Abstract
Psychosocial stress is a major factor driving gastrointestinal-tract (GIT) pathophysiology and disease susceptibility in both humans and animals. Young weaned pigs typically undergo psychosocial and environmental stressors associated with production practices, including separation from their dam, mixing and crowding stress, transport and changed temperature and air-quality parameters, all of which can have significant deleterious impacts not only on performance but also on GIT structure and function, and, therefore, pig health and welfare. Strategies addressing some of these issues are explored in the current review, as well as discussion pertaining to sexual dimorphism in young pigs linked to stressful experiences, with young female pigs seemingly adversely affected more than their male counterparts. However, mechanisms governing susceptibility to stress-induced GIT functionality and disease remain inadequately understood.
Additional keywords: dimorphism, gender, health, management, stocking density.
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