TY  - BOOK
AU  - Geetha N 
AU  - Francis Xavier (Guide)
TI  - Stress assessment of piglets undergoing routine surgical procedures related to managemental practices
U1  - 636.088 
PY  - 2003///
CY  - Mannuthy
PB  - Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
N2  - Stress in piglets undergoing routine surgical procedures related to 
managemental practices was assessed in the present study. The experiment was 
conducted at the Center for Pig Production and Research (CPPR) of Kerala 
Agricultural University, Mannuthy. Sixty male piglets formed ten treatments with 
six replicates. Treatments undertaken were ear notching, handling for ear 
notching, castration, sham castration (restrained identically but not castrated), 
combined handling and performance of ear notching and castration. Behaviour 
and vocalization were observed during four different time frames viz: 30 minutes 
before the treatment, during the treatment, 30 minutes after the treatment and 24 
hours after the treatment respectively. Salivary cortisol concentration was 
determined by radio immuno assay technique. 
In one-week-old piglets, though the stress related behavioural scores due 
to ear notching was higher during the procedure, the scores got decreased after 30 
minutes and 24 hours of ear notching. The scores were intermediate in the 
combined performance of ear notching and castration compared to individual 
performance at one week. Castrates at eight weeks showed fewer stress related 
behaviours than the castrates at one week of age. 
The intensity of vocalization in week old ear notched groups got reduced 
after 30 minutes and 24 hours of ear notching. Vocalization intensity persisted till 
24 hours in one week aged castrates, but it got reduced after 30 minutes and 24 
hours in eight weeks castrates. The groups with combined performance of ear 
notching and castration were intermediate in the intensity of vocalization 
compared to individual performance at one week. 
There was reduction in the duration of vocalization in week-aged ear 
notched groups after 30 minutes and 24 hours of treatment. Castrates at eight 
weeks of age showed increased duration of vocalization after 30 minutes and 24 
 
hours, but the level was lesser compared to one week old castrates. The groups 
with combined performance of ear notching and castration were intermediate in 
the duration of vocalization compared to individual performance at one week. 
The frequency of vocalization in ear notched group got reduced in week 
old group after 30 minutes and 24 hours. Castrates at eight weeks of age showed 
increased frequency of vocalization after 30 minutes and 24 hours, but the level 
was lesser compared to one week old castrates. The groups with combined 
performance of ear notching and castration had longer duration of vocalization 
compared to individual performance at one week. 
At one week, ear notched group had lower cortisol value than the group 
handled for ear notching. One-week old castrates had higher cortisol 
concentration than eight-week-old castrates. Cortisol level was higher in 
combined performance of ear notching and castration than individual 
performance of the same. 
Individual performance of ear notching and castration was less stressful. 
Performance of ear notching at one week and castration at eight weeks of age is 
beneficial. This is the routine management related surgical procedure, practiced 
in the Center for Pig Production and Research (CPPR) of Kerala Agricultural 
University. 


UR  - https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810104610
ER  -