| Autor: |
Bushby, Emily V., Dye, Louise, Almond, Kayleigh, Collins, Lisa M. |
| Předmět: |
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| Zdroj: |
Magnesium Research; 2021, Vol. 34 Issue 3, p147-148, 2p |
| Abstrakt: |
Purpose: Additional dietary magnesium may be an effective way to improve pigs' welfare, health and overall production performance by reducing stress. This study aimed to investigate how additional dietary magnesium may reduce stress before and after a stressful event (regrouping) in pigs. Materials and methods: 240 pigs were weaned at 28 days of age and assigned to pens of five balanced for sex, origin litter and weaning weight. Two focal pigs per pen were selected based on highest and lowest weight (96 focal pigs). All animals received a standard commercial diet for the first 20 days post-weaning before beginning one of four study diets: (A) control; (B) magnesium phosphate (0.15%); (C) phytase (0.03%); or (D) magnesium phosphate (0.15%) and phytase (0.03%). After two weeks, the pens were combined ('regrouped') within treatment resulting in pens of ten. Pig and feed weights were recorded on the first day of the study diets, the day before regrouping and the end of the study. Saliva from each focal pig and pooled pen faecal samples were collected for two consecutive days before the trial diet began. Following this, samples were collected the week before, day after and week after regrouping. Each focal pig was assessed for skin lesions on a weekly basis. Blood samples were collected from each focal pig at the end of the study. Results: Pigs receiving the phytase diet (C) had signifi- cantly more body lesions than both of the magnesium diets (B - p=0.009; D - p=0.011). There was no significant difference between diets for the number of ear and tail lesions. There was no significant effect of diet on plasma mineral levels, faecal or salivary cortisol. Conclusion: Overall, magnesium phosphate may have some welfare benefits in terms of the stress response of pigs after regrouping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Databáze: |
Complementary Index |
| Externí odkaz: |
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