The provision of enrichment material has been widely recommended to mitigate stress and minimise aggressive behaviour as well as enhance the welfare of pigs after transport and regrouping. In this study, we assessed the effects of providing a polyester sling belt (SB) on behaviour, number of skin lesions, and salivary cortisol levels in growing pigs shortly after transport and regrouping. A total of 571 pigs (29.6 ± 2.4 kg) were allocated to one of the following three treatment groups: 1) C: control group, 2) SB5: provision of 5– 6 SB per pen, and 3) SB10: provision of 10–12 SB per pen. After being transported for 2 h, the pigs were housed in pens having fully slatted floors and regrouped with unfamiliar pigs. Their behaviours after regrouping were observed via 24-h video recording. Body weight and number of skin lesions were assessed on days 0 (the day of transport and regrouping) and day 6. Saliva samples were collected from nine pigs per treatment on days 1 and 2. The SB10 group exhibited significantly lower levels of injurious interaction than did the C group (P < 0.05). This injurious interaction tended to have positive correlations with the salivary cortisol levels on day 2 (r = 0.64, P = 0.06) and the changes in the proportion of pigs with skin lesion score (1+2) from day 0 to 6 (r = 0.66, P = 0.05). Furthermore, it was positively correlated with the proportion of pigs with skin lesion score (1+2) on day 6 (r = 0.80, P = 0.01). Additionally, manipulation behaviour towards the SB showed a negative correlation with skin lesions on day 6 (r = −0.70, P < 0.05) and also displayed a negative tendency to be correlated with salivary cortisol levels on day 2 (r = −0.64, P = 0.06). During the study period, the SB10 group exhibited the greatest reduction in the proportion of pigs with skin lesions than did the other groups (P < 0.05). Salivary cortisol levels did not differ significantly among the treatment groups on day 1; nevertheless, the lowest level was observed in the SB10 group on day 2 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, providing SB to growing pigs housed in pens with slatted flooring shortly after transportation and regrouping can improve their health and welfare by reducing injurious behaviour, skin lesions and activity in the HPA-axis suggesting stress.
차량 수송과 재편성은 돼지에게 스트레스와 공격성을 유발하여 돼지의 복지와 농장의 생산성을 저하시킬 수 있다. 이러한 스트레스를 완화시키고 공격성을 최소화하기 위한 수단으로서 행동 풍부화 물질의 제공이 널리 권장되어 왔다. 본 연구는 행동 풍부화 물질로써 슬링벨트를 제공하였을 경우 차량 수송 및 재편성 직후 초기 육성돈의 타액 코르티솔 농도, 피부 상처 발생 및 행동 변화에 미치는 영향을 평가하기 위해 수행하였다. 총 571마리의 육성돈 (29.6 ± 2.4 kg)이 다음 3배치 3처리로 할당되었다: 1) C: 대조군 (n = 186), 2) SB5: 슬링벨트 5~6개 제공 (n =191), 3) SB10: 슬링벨트 10~12개 제공 (n = 194). 모든 돼지는 150km가량을 약 2시간 동안 차량 수송된 후 슬레이트 바닥구조로 이루어진 돈사에 재편성되었다. 재편성 직후 24시간 동안 육성돈의 행동을 영상녹화를 통해 관찰했으며, 피부 상처 여부는 0일 차, 6일 차에 돼지가 체중 측정을 위해 체중계에 머무는 동안 관찰하였다. 타액 샘플은 재편성 후 1일 차. 2일 차 오전 10:00 시에 처리당 9마리의 돼지로부터 보정 없이 수집했다. 재편성 직후 24시간동안 부정적 상호작용의 비율은 C그룹과 비교해 SB10그룹에서 낮은 비율을 보였다(P