HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by McGlone, J. J. Articles by Tribble, L. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by McGlone, J. J. Articles by Tribble, L. F.

Aerosolized 5-androst-16-en-3-one Reduced Agonistic Behavior and Temporarily Improved Performance of Growing Pigs¹

Texas Tech University², Lubbock 79409

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of aerosolized 5-androst-16-en-3-one (androstenone) on pig aggressive and submissive behaviors and on pig performance. In Exp. 1, twenty-four 5-wk-old pigs were randomly regrouped in a two-pig bioassay. A solution of either isopropyl alcohol or .5 mg androstenone in isopropyl alcohol per pig was aerosolized on both pigs in the observation pens. Summarization of video records from the 90-min bioassay showed that pens of pigs aerosolized with androstenone spent 58% less time engaged in aggressive behavior (P<.05) and 96% less time engaged in submissive behavior (P<.01). In Exp. 2, a performance trial was conducted with finishing pigs from 57 to 91 kg body weight. Factorially arranged treatments included 1) aerosolized androstenone (.5 mg/pig) or the vehicle isopropyl alcohol and 2) regrouping into uniform body weight blocks or no regrouping. Regrouping depressed average daily feed consumption (P<.05) and average daily gain (P<.05) for the first 7 d of the trial. Pigs reveiving the androstenone aerosol had improved average daily gain (P=.01) and gain:feed ratio (P<.01) for the first 28 d of the trial. Performance of all treated pigs was similar for the entire finishing period. This olfactory stimulant reduced pig agonistic behavior and transiently improved performance of regrouped and non-regrouped finishing pigs.

¹ The authors express appreciation to Mr. Stanley Harris and his crew for care of the animals and Mrs. Dianne Morrow for typing the manuscript. College of Agr. Sci. paper number T-5-202.

² Dept. of Anim. Sci.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. J. Seguin, R. M. Friendship, R. N. Kirkwood, A. J. Zanella, and T. M. Widowski Effects of boar presence on agonistic behavior, shoulder scratches, and stress response of bred sows at mixing J Anim Sci, May 1, 2006; 84(5): 1227 - 1237. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Guiraudie, P. Pageat, A.-H. Cain, I. Madec, and P. N.-L. Meillour Functional Characterization of Olfactory Binding Proteins for Appeasing Compounds and Molecular Cloning in the Vomeronasal Organ of Pre-pubertal Pigs Chem Senses, September 1, 2003; 28(7): 609 - 619. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]