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- Title
Effects of exogenous porcine somatotropin and transportation on physiological parameters in weaned pigs.
- Authors
Kojima, C. J.; Roberson, P. E.; Roberts, M. P.; Sun, T.; Kattesh, H. G.
- Abstract
An experiment was performed to examine effects of exogenous porcine somatotropin (S) on physiological measures of health and well-being in weaned pigs with or without subsequent transport (T). We hypothesized that S may abrogate stress-related decreases in health and well-being in recently weaned and transported pigs. On d 17 of lactation pigs were were weighed and assigned to treatment groups (n=8/group): NS-NT (vehicle injection, no transport), S-NT (S injection, no transport), NS-T (vehicle injection, transport at weaning), and S-T (S injection, transport at weaning). Upon allocation, all pigs received daily intramuscular injections containing S (0.5 mg/kg) or vehicle for 5 d. On d 21, a blood sample was drawn immediately prior to injection (0800 h). At 1200 h on d 21, pigs were weighed and blood was collected. Pigs in the NT groups were then weaned into mixed nursery pens while pigs in the T groups were mixed and transported by truck for 3 h before being brought back to the nursery. All weaned pigs were fed a standard nursery diet. Blood samples and body weights were taken on d 22, 29 and 37. Data were analyzed by a mixed model procedure with a factorial design and repeated measures. Transport resulted in lower body weights (P<0.05) at all time points post-weaning, and weight gain within the 14-d window postweaning was less in T pigs (P=0.05). Transport increased circulating neutrophil numbers and overall white cell count (P<0.05). An S*Time interaction was observed (P<.05) such that S caused a sharp increase in circulating neutrophils 4 h after injection; however, neutrophil count returned to control levels within 24 h. Elevated concentrations of circulating cortisol were noted in all groups on d 22 (the morning after weaning; P<.0001). On d 22, a Time*S*T interaction was observed (P=0.05) such that cortisol was higher in S-NT and NS-T than in NS-NT pigs, with S-T pigs not different than NS-NT pigs. We conclude that treatment with S altered immune and hormonal profiles in weanling pigs but was not effective in abrogating the weight loss observed in transported pigs.
- Subjects
ANIMAL weaning; PORCINE somatotropin; HYDROCORTISONE; SWINE; INTRAMUSCULAR injections; REPEATED measures design; LEUCOCYTES
- Publication
Journal of Animal Science, 2006, Vol 84, p89
- ISSN
0021-8812
- Publication type
Article