J. Anim Sci. 2007. 85:1750-1757.没有查到全文PeriparturientPeriparturient cortisol,cortisol, acuteacute phasephase cytokine,cytokine, andand acuteacute phasephase proteinprotein profilesprofiles ofof giltsgilts housedhoused inin groupsgroups oror stallsstalls duringduring gestationgestationA. D. Sorrells*, ,1, S. D. Eicher*,2, M. J. Harris,3, E. A. Pajor and B. T. Richert * Livestock Behavior Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907; and Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 2 Corresponding author: spruiettpurdue.edu Use of gestation stalls in pork production remains a controversial topic in animal welfare. Immune status and measures are frequently used to assess stress levels and thus well-being of confined animals. The important welfare issue of close confinement among gestating gilts was tested by quantifying cortisol, acute phase cytokine, and acute phase protein pro-files before and after farrowing of gilts housed in 2 systems. Landrace x Yorkshire crossbred gilts housed in groups of 4 (group, n = 8) in pens (3.9 x 2.4 m with 4 individual feeding spaces, 9.36 m2 total or 2.34 m2/gilt) were compared with gilts housed in standard industry stalls (stall, n = 16; 2.2 x 0.6 m, 1.32 m2/gilt). Floors were fully slatted, and a substrate was not provided for either system. Cortisol was determined from saliva on d 105 of gestation, 1 h after moving the gilts into farrowing stalls (d 111), and 24 h and 7 d after farrowing. Cortisol was greater (P = 0.04) for group gilts compared with stall gilts 1 h after moving them into farrowing stalls and 24 h after farrowing. Cortisol concentrations decreased (P = 0.001) over time. Leukocyte mRNA expression of IL-1, IL-1 receptor antagonist, and tumor necrosis factor- was determined by quantitative, reverse transcription PCR on d 35, 63, and 91 of gestation and 72 h after farrowing. Cytokine mRNA expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells did not differ between housing systems for IL-1, its receptor antagonist, or for tumor necrosis factor- . Acute phase proteins, including fibrinogen, haptoglobin, and 1-acid glycoprotein were determined for plasma samples taken at d 35, 63, and 91 of gestation and 72 h and 14 d after farrowing. In contrast to cortisol, plasma fibrinogen concentrations increased (P 0.10). Stall gilts tended to have greater (P = 0.07) plasma 1-acid glycoprotein concentrations than group animals at d 35 of gestation and d 14 after farrowing. These data showed a trend (P 0.07) for 1-acid glycoprotein concentrations to return to baseline more quickly in group-housed gilts, which did not appear to be directly related to increased cortisol just before farrowing. In conclusion, few differences in the acute phase response were detected between housing systems, suggesting that the resting immunological responses are only mildly affected by gestation stalls. KeyKey Words:Words: acute phase response cortisol gestation stall housing pig stressJ. Anim Sci. 2007. 85:2959-2971. 没有查到全文EffectEffect ofof feedingfeeding fermentedfermented liquidliquid feedfeed andand fermentedfermented graingrain onon gastrointestinalgastrointestinal ecologyecology andand growthgrowth performanceperformance inin pigletspigletsN. Canibe*,1, O. Hjberg*, J. H. Badsberg,2 and B. B. Jensen* * University of Aarhus, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Health, Welfare and Nutrition; and and Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, PO Box 50, 8830 Tjele, Denmark 1 Corresponding author: nuria.canibeagrsci.dk To investigate the microbial and nutritional characteristics of dry feed, liquid feed containing fermented liquid cereal grains, and fermented liquid feed, and their effect on gastrointestinal ecology and growth performance, 120 piglets from 40 litters were used and housed in pens with 5 animals in each. The 3 dietary treatments (all nonheated and nonpelleted diets) were: a dry meal diet (DRY); a fermented, liquid cereal grain feed (FLG); and a fermented liquid feed (FLF). The FLG diet was prepared by storing the dietary cereals (barley and wheat) and water (1:2.5, wt/wt) in a closed tank at 20C and adding the remaining dietary ingredients immediately before feeding. The FLF diet was prepared by storing compound feed and water (1:2.5, wt/wt) in a closed tank at 20C. Three times daily, 50% of the fermented cereals or compound feed and water stored in the tanks was removed and replaced with an equal amount of fresh cereals or feed and water. On d 14, 1 piglet from each pen was killed and samples from the gastrointestinal tract were obtained. The pH of the fermented cereals was 3.85 (SD = 0.10), that of the FLG diet was 5.00 (SD = 0.18), and the pH of the FLF diet was 4.45 (SD = 0.11). The dietary concentration of lysine (g/16 g of N) pointed to a decreased concentration in the FLF (5.46, SD = 0.08) compared with the