Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.5713/ajas.15.0174

Benefits of Prepartum Nest-building Behaviour on Parturition and Lactation in Sows - A Review  

Yun, Jinhyeon (Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki)
Valros, Anna (Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki)
Publication Information
Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences / v.28, no.11, 2015 , pp. 1519-1524 More about this Journal
Abstract
It is well known that prepartum sows have an innate motivation to build a nest before parturition. Under commercial conditions, however, the farrowing crate, which is widely used in modern pig husbandry, inhibits this innate behaviour through the lack of space, materials, or both. Thus, restriction of nest-building behaviour could generate increased stress, resulting in a decrease in maternal endogenous hormones. Hence, it could lead to detrimental effects on farrowing and lactating performance. Here we review interactions between prepartum nest-building behaviour, stress and maternal endogenous hormone levels, and discuss their effects on parturition, lactation, and welfare of sows and offspring.
Keywords
Farrowing Environment; Nest-building; Pig Welfare; Maternal Behaviour; Farrowing Duration; Stillbirths;
Citations & Related Records
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
1 Algers, B. and K. Uvnas-Moberg. 2007. Maternal behavior in pigs. Horm. Behav. 52:78-85.   DOI   ScienceOn
2 Arey, D. S., A. M. Petchey, and V. R. Fowler. 1991. The preparturient behaviour of sows in enriched pens and the effect of pre-formed nests. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 31:61-68.   DOI   ScienceOn
3 Baxter, M. R. and J. C. Petherick. 1980. The effect of restraint on parturition in the sow. In: Proceedings of the International Pig Veterinary Society. Vol. 6:84.
4 Bicknell, R. J. and G. Leng. 1982. Endogenous opiates regulate oxytocin but not vasopressin secretion from the neurohypophysis. Nature 298:161-162.   DOI   ScienceOn
5 Blackshaw, J. K. and I. D. Smith. 1982. Behavioural effects of $PGF2{\alpha}$ in the non-pregnant sow. Appl. Anim. Ethol. 8:581-583.
6 Boulton, M. I., A. Wickens, D. Brown, J. A. Goode, and C. L. Gilbert. 1997. Prostaglandin F2alpha-induced nest-building in pseudopregnant pigs. II. Space restriction stress does not influence secretion of oxytocin, prolactin, oestradiol or progesterone. Physiol. Behav. 62:1079-1085.   DOI   ScienceOn
7 Bourne, F. J. 1973. The immunoglobulin system of the suckling pig. Proc. Nutr. Soc 32:205-215.   DOI   ScienceOn
8 Boyd, D. R., R. S. Kensinger, R. J. Harrell, and D. E. Bauman. 1995. Nutrient uptake and endocrine regulation of milk synthesis by mammary tissue of lactating sows. J. Anim. Sci. 73:36-56.   DOI
9 Boyle, L. A., F. C. Leonard, P. B. Lynch, and P. Brophy. 2002. Effect of gestation housing on behaviour and skin lesions of sows in farrowing crates. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 76:119-134.   DOI   ScienceOn
10 Burne, T. H., P. J. Murfitt, and C. L. Gilbert. 2000. Deprivation of straw bedding alters PGF(2alpha)-induced nesting behaviour in female pigs. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 69:215-225.   DOI   ScienceOn
11 Castren, H., B. Algers, A. M. de Passille, J. Rushen, and K. Uvnas-Moberg. 1993. Preparturient variation in progesterone, prolactin, oxytocin and somatostatin in relation to nest building in sows. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 38:91-102.   DOI   ScienceOn
12 Chaloupkova, H., G. Illmann, K. Neuhauserova, M. Simeckova, and P. Kratinova. 2011. The effect of nesting material on the nest-building and maternal behavior of domestic sows and piglet production. J. Anim. Sci. 89:531-537.   DOI   ScienceOn
13 Damm, B. I., M. Bildsoe, C. Gilbert, J. Ladewig, and K. S. Vestergaard. 2002. The effects of confinement on periparturient behaviour and circulating prolactin, prostaglandin F2a and oxytocin in gilts with access to a variety of nest materials. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 76:135-156.   DOI   ScienceOn
14 Damm, B. I., B. Forkman, and L. J. Pedersen. 2005. Lying down and rolling behaviour in sows in relation to piglet crushing. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 90:3-20.   DOI   ScienceOn
15 Damm, B. I., L. Lisborg, K. S. Vestergaard, and J. Vanicek. 2003. Nest-building behavioural disturbances and heart rate in farrowing sows kept in crates and Schmid pens. Livest. Prod. Sci. 80:175-187.   DOI   ScienceOn
16 Douglas, A. J., I. Neumann, H. K. Meeren, G. Leng, L. E. Johnstone, G. Munro, and J. A. Russell. 1995. Central endogenous opioid inhibition of supraoptic oxytocin neurons in pregnant rats. J. Neurosci. 15:5049-5057.   DOI
17 Foisnet, A., C. Farmer, C. David, and H. Quesnel. 2010. Relationships between colostrum production by primiparous sows and sow physiology around parturition. J. Anim. Sci. 88:1672-1683.   DOI   ScienceOn
18 Hales, J., V. A. Moustsen, A. M. Devreese, M. B. F. Nielsen, and C. F. Hansen. 2015. Comparable farrowing progress in confined and loose housed hyper-prolific sows. Livest. Sci. 171:64-72.   DOI   ScienceOn
19 Gilbert, C. L., T. H. Burne, J. A. Goode, P. J. Murfitt, and S. L. Walton. 2002. Indomethacin blocks pre-partum nest building behaviour in the pig (Sus scrofa): effects on plasma prostaglandin F metabolite, oxytocin, cortisol and progesterone. J. Endocrinol. 172:507-517.   DOI   ScienceOn
20 Gustafsson, M., P. Jensen, F. H. de Jonge, G. Illmann, and M. Spinka. 1999. Maternal behaviour of domestic sows and crosses between domestic sows and wild boar. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 65:29-42.   DOI   ScienceOn
21 Hansen, K. E. and S. E. Curtis. 1980. Prepartal activity of sows in stall or pen. J. Anim. Sci. 51:456-460.   DOI
22 Heckt, W. L., T. M. Widowski, S. E. Curtis, and H. W. Gonyou. 1988. Prepartum behavior of gilts in three farrowing environments. J. Anim. Sci. 66:1378-1385.   DOI
23 Herskin, M. S., K. H. Jensen, and K. Thodberg. 1998. Influence of environmental stimuli on maternal behaviour related to bonding, reactivity and crushing of piglets in domestic sows. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 58:241-254.   DOI   ScienceOn
24 Herley, W. L. 2001. Mammary gland growth in the lactating sow. Livest. Prod. Sci. 70:149-157.   DOI   ScienceOn
25 Higuchi, T., K. Honda, T. Fukuoka, H. Negoro, and K. Wakabayashi. 1985. Release of oxytocin during suckling and parturition in the rat. J. Endocrinol. 105:339-346.   DOI   ScienceOn
26 Jarvis, S., S. K. Calvert, J. Stevenson, N. vanLeeuwen, and A. B. Lawrence. 2002. Pituitary-adrenal activation in pre-parturient pigs (Sus scrofa) is associated with behavioural restriction due to lack of space rather than nesting substrate. Anim. Welf. 11:371-384.
27 Jensen, P. 1986. Observations on the maternal behaviour of free-ranging domestic pigs. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 16:131-142.   DOI   ScienceOn
28 Jarvis, S., A. B. Lawrence, K. A. McLean, L. A. Deans, J. Chirnside, and S. K. Calvert. 1997. The effect of environment on behavioural activity, ACTH, ($\beta$-endorphin and cortisol in pre-farrowing gilts. Anim. Sci. 65:465-472.   DOI   ScienceOn
29 Jarvis, S., B. T. Reed, A. B. Lawrence, S. K. Calvert, and J. Stevenson. 2004. Peri-natal environmental effects on maternal behaviour, pituitary and adrenal activation, and the progress of parturition in the primiparous sow. Anim. Welf. 13:171-181.
30 Jarvis, S., B. J. Van der Vegt, A. B. Lawrence, K. A. McLean, L. A. Deans, J. Chirnside, and S. K. Calvert. 2001. The effect of parity and environmental restriction on behavioural and physiological responses of pre-parturient pigs. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 71:203-216.   DOI   ScienceOn
31 Jensen, P. 1988. Diurnal rhythm of bar-biting in relation to other behaviour in pregnant sows. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 21:337-346.   DOI   ScienceOn
32 Jensen, P. 1989. Nest site choice and nest building of free-ranging domestic pigs due to farrow. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 22:13-21.   DOI   ScienceOn
33 Jensen, P. 1993. Nest building in domestic sows: the role of external stimuli. Anim. Behav. 45:351-358.   DOI   ScienceOn
34 Lawrence, A. B., K. A. McLean, S. Jarvis, C. L. Gilbert, and J. C. Petherick. 1997. Stress and parturition in the pig. Reprod. Domest. Anim .32:231-236.   DOI   ScienceOn
35 Oliviero, C., M. Heinonen, A. Valros, O. Halli, and O. A. Peltoniemi. 2008. Effect of the environment on the physiology of the sow during late pregnancy, farrowing and early lactation. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 105:365-377.   DOI   ScienceOn
36 Lawrence, A. B., J. C. Petherick, K. A. McLean, L. A. Deans, J. Chirnside, A. Gaughan, E. Clutton, and E. M. C. Terlouw. 1994. The effect of environment on behaviour, plasma cortisol and prolactin in parturient sows. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 39:313-330.   DOI   ScienceOn
37 Mayer, J. J., F. D. Martin, and I. L. Brisbin Jr. 2002. Characteristics of wild pig farrowing nests and beds in the upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 78:1-17.   DOI   ScienceOn
38 Moustsen, V. A. and H. L. Poulsen. 2004. Comparison of production results in traditional farrowing crates and farrowing pens for loose housed sows. Meddelelse 679. Videnscenter for Svineproduktion, Copenhagen, Denmark. http://vsp.lf.dk/Publikationer/Kilder/lu_medd/2004/679.aspx. Accessed Dec. 6, 2004.
39 Oliviero, C., M. Heinonen, A. Valros, and O. Peltoniemi. 2010. Environmental and sow-related factors affecting the duration of farrowing. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 119:85-91.   DOI   ScienceOn
40 Pedersen, L. J., P. Berg, G. Jorgensen, and I. L. Andersen. 2011. Neonatal piglet traits of importance for survival in crates and indoor pens. J. Anim. Sci. 89:1207-1218.   DOI   ScienceOn
41 Ross, H. E. and L. J. Young. 2009. Oxytocin and the neural mechanisms regulating social cognition and affiliative behavior. Front. Neuroendocrinol. 30:534-547.   DOI   ScienceOn
42 Rushen, J., S. Robert, and C. Farmer. 2001. Evidence of a limited role for prolactin in the preparturient activity of confined gilts. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 72:309-319.   DOI   ScienceOn
43 Valros, A., M. Rundgren, M. .pinka, H. Saloniemi, and B. Algers. 2003. Sow activity level, frequency of standing-to-lying posture changes and anti-crushing behaviour.within sow-repeatability and interactions with nursing behaviour and piglet performance. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 83:29-40.   DOI   ScienceOn
44 Taverne, M. A., C. Naaktgeboren, F. Elsaesser, M. L. Forsling, G. C. van der Weyden, F. Ellendorff, and D. Smidt. 1979. Myometrial electrical activity and plasma concentrations of progesterone, estrogens and oxytocin during late pregnancy and parturition in the miniature pig. Biol. Reprod. 21:1125-1134.   DOI   ScienceOn
45 Tuchscherer, M., E. Kanitz, W. Otten, and A. Tuchscherer. 2002. Effects of prenatal stress on cellular and humoral immune responses in neonatal pigs. Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol. 86:195-203.   DOI   ScienceOn
46 Uvnas-Moberg, K. and M. Petersson. 2005. Oxytocin, a mediator of anti-stress, well-being, social interaction, growth and healing. Z. Psychosom. Med. Psychother. 51:57-80.
47 Valros, A., M. Rundgren, M. .pinka, H. Saloniemi, F. Hulten, K. Uvnas-Moberg, M. Tomanek, Krejci, amp, x, P., and B. Algers. 2004. Oxytocin, prolactin and somatostatin in lactating sows: associations with mobilisation of body resources and maternal behaviour. Livest. Prod. Sci. 85:3-13.   DOI   ScienceOn
48 Weber, R., N. M. Keil, M. Fehr, and R. Horat. 2007. Piglet mortality on farms using farrowing systems with or without crates. Anim. Welf. 16:277-279.
49 Wechsler, B. and D. Hegglin. 1997. Individual differences in the behaviour of sows at the nest-site and the crushing of piglets. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 51:39-49.   DOI   ScienceOn
50 Widowski, T. M. and S. E. Curtis. 1990. The influence of straw, cloth tassel, or both on the prepartum behavior of sows. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 27:53-71.   DOI   ScienceOn
51 Yun, J., K.-M. Swan, K. Vienola, C. Farmer, C. Oliviero, O. Peltoniemi, and A. Valros. 2013. Nest-building in sows: effects of farrowing housing on hormonal modulation of maternal characteristics. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 148:77-84.   DOI   ScienceOn
52 Wischner, D., N. Kemper, and J. Krieter. 2009. Nest-building behaviour in sows and consequences for pig husbandry. Livest. Sci. 124:1-8.   DOI   ScienceOn
53 Yun, J., K.-M. Swan, C. Farmer, C. Oliviero, O. Peltoniemi, and A. Valros. 2014a. Prepartum nest-building has an impact on postpartum nursing performance and maternal behaviour in early lactating sows. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 160:31-37.   DOI   ScienceOn
54 Yun, J., K.-M. Swan, C. Oliviero, O. Peltoniemi, and A. Valros. 2015. Effects of prepartum housing environment on abnormal behaviour, the farrowing process, and interactions with circulating oxytocin in sows. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 162:20-25.   DOI   ScienceOn
55 Yun, J., K. M. Swan, K. Vienola, Y. Y. Kim, C. Oliviero, O. A. T. Peltoniemi, and A. Valros. 2014b. Farrowing environment has an impact on sow metabolic status and piglet colostrum intake in early lactation. Livest. Sci. 163:120-125.   DOI   ScienceOn
56 Zanella, A. J., D. M. Broom, J. C. Hunter, and M. T. Mendl. 1996. Brain opioid receptors in relation to stereotypies, inactivity, and housing in sows. Physiol. Behav. 59:769-775.   DOI   ScienceOn