Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Few differences found between early- and late-weaned pigs raised in the same environment.

L M Hohenshell1, J E Cunnick, S P Ford

  • 1Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames 50011, USA.

Journal of Animal Science
|February 22, 2000
PubMed
Summary

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Effects of oral meloxicam on physiological and behavioral outcomes of weaned calves following band castration.

Translational animal science·2025
Same author

Obesity increased the risk of SARS-CoV-2 positivity in children.

Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)·2023
Same author

Use of a novel oleaginous microorganism as a potential source of lipids for weanling pigs<sup></sup>.

Translational animal science·2020
Same author

Testing the feasibility of using a conveyor belt to load weanling and nursery pigs for transportation.

Translational animal science·2020
Same author

Prion protein N1 cleavage peptides stimulate microglial interaction with surrounding cells.

Scientific reports·2020
Same author

Response to adrenocorticotropic hormone or corticotrophin-releasing hormone and vasopressin in lactating cows fed an immunomodulatory supplement under thermoneutral or acute heat stress conditions.

Journal of dairy science·2020

Early weaning in pigs can lead to increased play-fighting and stress behaviors shortly after weaning. However, most behavioral and physiological differences between early-weaned and late-weaned pigs diminish before slaughter.

Area of Science:

  • Animal Science
  • Behavioral Science
  • Veterinary Medicine

Background:

  • Early weaning practices in swine production aim to enhance productivity and health.
  • However, early weaning may induce stress and aberrant behaviors in piglets.
  • Understanding the long-term effects of weaning age on piglet development is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the behavioral and physiological differences between early-weaned (10 days) and late-weaned (30 days) pigs.
  • To assess the impact of weaning age on stress responses and growth performance.
  • To determine if early-life differences persist until slaughter.

Main Methods:

  • Pigs were weaned at either 10 or 30 days of age and housed in groups.
  • Behavioral observations (lying, standing, sitting, drinking, feeder investigations, play/fighting, conspecific manipulation) were recorded post-weaning.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Growth performance (body weight, average daily gain) and physiological markers (hemoglobin, hormonal gene expression) were measured.
  • Two stress tests were administered at 62 and 165 days of age.

    • Main Results:

    • Early-weaned pigs exhibited more play-fighting and conspecific manipulation immediately after weaning.
    • Early-weaned pigs showed higher hemoglobin levels during the first stress test and greater average daily gain at 42 days of age.
    • Late-weaned pigs demonstrated increased average daily gain between 137 and 165 days of age.
    • Differences in growth and behavior largely resolved by the time of slaughter.

    Conclusions:

    • Weaning age influences early piglet behavior and physiology, with early-weaned pigs showing more stress-related behaviors initially.
    • While some physiological markers and growth rates differ, these effects are transient and diminish before market weight.
    • Production systems should consider the short-term impacts of early weaning on piglet welfare and development.