The aim of this experiment was to study the consequences of an ‘all in-all out’ static group of uniform age vs. a continuously dynamic group with litter introduction and exit every third week for the stress response and aematological (blood) parameters of pigs housed in large groups (60 pigs). The results showed limited differences in stress and haematological parameters between pigs in dynamic groups with a uniform space allowance compared with pigs in the static ‘all in-all-out’ groups. The cortisol response to the stress test was increasing with the duration of the stress test in pigs from the dynamic group while it was decreasing in the static group.
For more information the full article can be found at http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci
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