Environmental and Physiological Aspects of Prepartum Behavior in the Sow
Widowski, Tina Marie
This item is only available for download by members of the University of Illinois community. Students, faculty, and staff at the U of I may log in with your NetID and password to view the item. If you are trying to access an Illinois-restricted dissertation or thesis, you can request a copy through your library's Inter-Library Loan office or purchase a copy directly from ProQuest.
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/70061
Description
Title
Environmental and Physiological Aspects of Prepartum Behavior in the Sow
Author(s)
Widowski, Tina Marie
Issue Date
1988
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Curtis, Stanley E.
Department of Study
Animal Sciences
Discipline
Animal Sciences
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Agriculture, Animal Culture and Nutrition
Abstract
Experiments were conducted to identify some environmental and physiological factors involved in the prepartum behavior of sows. Eight of 12 penned sows offered 3 kg straw from a wire basket took substantial amounts of straw and used it to construct farrowing nests during the 24 hours preceding birth of first piglet. Most activity was directed at straw and was much the same for all sows. Manipulation of a cloth tassel by 13 prepartum sows in farrowing crates increased significantly during the 24 hours preceding birth. Prepartum behavior of 16 penned sows given straw in a basket (or no straw) and a cloth tassel (or no tassel) were compared. Sows offered straw took straw from the basket and directed most activity at it. Sows provided a cloth tassel only nosed and pulled the tassel significantly more than sows given both straw and tassel and often ripped pieces of cloth from it and directed rooting and pawing at it, suggesting that the tassel served as a substitute for nesting material. All sows engaged in similar durations of typical prepartum activity.
Injection of sows with prostaglandin F$\sb2$a (PGF$\sb2$a) on day 112 postcoitum and 24 hours postpartum provoked nestbuilding behavior within minutes. Sows injected with cloprostenol, an analogue of PGF$\sb2$a, did not exhibit an immediate behavioral response. Endocrine changes stimulated by PGF$\sb2$a and cloprostenol were compared to identify any endocrine events that may have been associated with differences in behavioral response to the compounds. Plasma prolactin increased within 15 minutes after injection of PGF$\sb2$a but more gradually and never to as high a peak after cloprostenol. Both prostaglandin compounds provoked a decline in progesterone, a surge in relaxin, and neither influenced estrone concentration. Differences in pattern of prolactin release after injection of the two compounds suggests differences exist in their action on the hypothalamus or pituitary. These are most likely responsible for differences in behavioral effects of the compounds. Prolactin may play a role in the onset of nestbuilding behavior in the sow. Alternatively, it may be released simultaneously by some hypothalamic mechanism that is also responsible for triggering the behavior.
Use this login method if you
don't
have an
@illinois.edu
email address.
(Oops, I do have one)
IDEALS migrated to a new platform on June 23, 2022. If you created
your account prior to this date, you will have to reset your password
using the forgot-password link below.
