J. Anim Sci.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

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

Journal of Animal Science, Vol 71, Issue 6 1441-1446, Copyright © 1993 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

The development of pain in young pigs associated with castration and attempts to prevent castration-induced behavioral changes

J. J. McGlone, R. I. Nicholson, J. M. Hellman and D. N. Herzog
Department of Animal Science, Pork Industry Institute, Texas Tech University, Lubbock 79409-2141.

Four experiments were conducted to examine the development of castration-induced behavioral changes, the effects of castration age on pig weight gain, and the efficacy of common analgesics for use in castrated pigs. In Exp. 1, behavioral changes associated with castration of pigs at 1, 5, 10, 15, or 20 d of age were evaluated. Castration caused measurable changes (reduced suckling, reduced standing, and increased lying times, P < .05) in the behavior of young pigs compared with that of intact pigs at all ages tested. Effects of age and interactions between age and castration treatment were not significant (P > .10) for any behaviors evaluated. In Exp. 2, the performance of pigs castrated at 1 d of age was compared with the performance of those castrated on d 14 and female littermates. Birth weights, weaning weights, and mortality were recorded. Pigs that were castrated on d 14 were heavier (P = .05) at weaning and had a higher (P < .05) weight gain during lactation compared to pigs castrated on d 1 of age. Pig mortality was similar among the treatments. In Exp. 3 and 4, the efficacies of pain-reducing drugs (non-narcotic analgesics) were evaluated for effectiveness in reducing castration-induced behavioral changes in 8-wk-old pigs. Although castration reduced (P < .05) feeding time and weight gain, neither aspirin nor butorphanol influenced behavioral changes associated with castration. We conclude that pigs show similar behavioral changes (and probably pain perception) when castrated from 1 to 20 d of age. However, pig performance data favored castration at 14 d rather than at 1 d of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J ANIM SCIHome page
S. R. Niekamp, M. A. Sutherland, G. E. Dahl, and J. L. Salak-Johnson
Photoperiod influences the immune status of multiparous pregnant sows and their piglets
J Anim Sci, August 1, 2006; 84(8): 2072 - 2082.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J ANIM SCIHome page
J. A. Carroll, E. L. Berg, T. A. Strauch, M. P. Roberts, and H. G. Kattesh
Hormonal profiles, behavioral responses, and short-term growth performance after castration of pigs at three, six, nine, or twelve days of age
J Anim Sci, May 1, 2006; 84(5): 1271 - 1278.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J ANIM SCIHome page
A. Prunier, A. M. Mounier, and M. Hay
Effects of castration, tooth resection, or tail docking on plasma metabolites and stress hormones in young pigs
J Anim Sci, January 1, 2005; 83(1): 216 - 222.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1993 by the American Society of Animal Science.