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Influence of olfactory substances on the heart rate and lying behaviour of pigs during transport simulation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

B Driessen ,
E Peeters  and
R Geers
B Driessen*
Affiliation:
Katholieke Hogeschool Kempen, Kleinhoefstraat 4, B-2440 Geel, Belgium Laboratory for Quality Care in Animal Production, Zootechnical Centre, KU Leuven, Bijzondere weg 12, B-3360 Lovenjoel, Belgium
E Peeters
Affiliation:
Federal Government Service, Department Animal Welfare, Victor Hortaplein 40/10, B-1060 Brussels, Belgium
R Geers
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Quality Care in Animal Production, Zootechnical Centre, KU Leuven, Bijzondere weg 12, B-3360 Lovenjoel, Belgium
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
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Abstract

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This study investigated the effect of olfactory substances on the heart rate and lying behaviour of pigs during transport simulation. Five treatments were tested through the application of each substance to pigs’ snouts with a paintbrush. These consisted of: 1) control treatment (wiping without product); 2) 2 ml of a synthetic, maternal-like pheromone; 3) 5 ml of a synthetic, maternal-like pheromone; 4) a commercial, non-relevant odour and 5) 2 ml of a placebo (solvent of the synthetic pheromone without active ingredients). In total, 90 pigs took part in this study and each treatment was tested on a group of three pigs with six replicates per treatment. Pigs were vibrated in the vertical direction in a transport simulator with a frequency of 8 Hz and an acceleration of 3 m s−2. Cardiac activity and lying behaviour during vibration were quantified. The effect of vibration was found to be statistically significant, ie causing an increase in heart rate and numbers of ventricular ectopic beats (VEB). Both 2 and 5 ml of synthetic pheromone were generally found to decrease the minimum, mean, and peak heart rate values in comparison with the other treatments (in particular the control and the non-relevant odour group) but only minimum heart rate reached statistical significance. However, the number of VEBs was highest for these two synthetic pheromone groups during vibration. No dose-dependent synthetic pheromone effects were found and there were no differences in the amount of time pigs spent lying. The use of olfactory substances may support pigs’ ability to cope with real transport conditions thereby improving their welfare.

Keywords

animal welfareheart rateolfactory substancespigstressvibration
Type
Articles
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 17 , Issue 2 , May 2008 , pp. 155 - 160
Copyright
© 2008 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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