Behavior of Pigs Reared in Enriched Environment: Alternatives to Extend Pigs Attention.

Three trials were carried out in a completely randomized design aiming to assess the behavior of pigs in growth phase in enriched environments. Trial 1 evaluated the effects of frequency of availability of environmental enrichment. The animals were assigned to four treatments: 1) control with no enrichment object; 2) objects provided for six consecutive days uninterruptedly; 3) objects provided on alternate days, and 4) objects provided for six consecutive days taken away by the end of the afternoon and replaced at dawn. Trial 2 assessed the effects of scent on animals' acceptance and maintenance of interest in objects. Animals were assigned to four treatments: 1) unscented object; 2) object with banana scent; 3) object with rum scent; 4) object with scents alternated every other day. Trial 3 aimed to assess the influence of environmental enrichment based on providing rewards at different difficulty levels. Animals were assigned to three treatments: 1) object with no reward; 2) object with a reward at an easy level; 3) object with a reward at a difficult level. Each trial had six days of behavioral observations every ten minutes for eight hours each day using images from video cameras. Enrichment objects stimulated the animals' natural behavior of nuzzling and exploring the environment. The way the objects were available did not impact the success of their use. Offering enrichment on alternate days or removing the objects by the end of the day was not an effective strategy to extend the animals' interest. The olfactory stimulus in environmental enrichment objects had no positive effect on extending the animals' interest on them, nor did alternating the aromas. The tactile stimulus was a key factor for object attractiveness. Providing environmental enrichment objects with rewards stimulated the exploratory behavior of pigs. The level of difficulty to obtain the reward may discourage the animals.

Net energy and ractopamine levels for barrows weighing 70 to 100 kg / Níveis de energia líquida e ractopamina para suínos machos castrados dos 70 aos 100 kg

The purpose of this study was to evaluate net energy and dietary ractopamine levels for barrows weighing 70 to 100kg. The 150 pigs investigated (initial weight 70.80±3.84kg) were distributed in a randomized block design with a 5×3 factorial arrangement, comprising five levels of net energy (2,300; 2,425; 2,550; 2,675; and 2,800Kcal kg-1 of diet) and three levels of ractopamine (5, 10, and 20ppm kg-1 of diet), with five replicates, and two animals per experimental unit. No interaction (P>0.05) was observed between net energy and ractopamine levels. Increasing the dietary net energy levels led to a linear reduction in feed intake, with a linear improvement in feed conversion. Net energy levels had no observable effect (P>0.05) on weight gain, final weight, or carcass characteristics. A dietary net energy level of 2,800Kcal kg-1 can be recommended for pigs weighing 70-100kg, improving feed conversion without affecting carcass characteristics, regardless of dietary ractopamine levels. Ractopamine levels above 5ppm did not affect performance or modify the quantitative characteristics of carcasses, regardless of dietary net energy levels.(AU)

Conduziu-se este estudo com o objetivo de avaliar níveis de energia líquida e ractopamina na dieta de suínos machos castrados em terminação dos 70 aos 100kg. Foram utilizados 150 suínos, com peso inicial de 70,80±3,84kg, distribuídos em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 5x3, com cinco níveis de energia líquida (2.300, 2.425, 2.550, 2.675 e 2.800Kcal kg-1 de dieta) e três níveis de ractopamina (5, 10 e 20ppm kg-1 de dieta), cinco repetições e dois animais por unidade experimental. Não houve interação (P>0,05) entre os níveis de energia líquida e ractopamina. O aumento dos níveis de energia líquida das dietas proporcionou redução linear do consumo de ração e resultou em melhora linear da conversão alimentar. Não houve efeito (P>0,05) dos níveis de energia líquida no ganho de peso, peso final e nas características de carcaça. Recomenda-se o nível de 2.800Kcal de EL kg-1 de dieta para suínos de 70 a 100kg por melhorar a conversão alimentar, sem prejudicar as características de carcaça, independentemente do nível de ractopamina das dietas. A inclusão de ractopamina na dieta de suínos dos 70 aos 100kg não afeta o desempenho e não modifica as características quantitativas das carcaças, independente do nível de energia líquida das dietas.(AU)

Levels of digestible lysine in diets with ractopamine for finishing pigs / Níveis de lisina digestível em dietas contendo ractopamina para suínos em terminação

The objective was to evaluate levels of digestible lysine in diets with 5ppm of ractopamine on performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs. Ninety-six pigs, 48 barrows and gilts with initial body weight of 83.57 ± 4.07kg, were sorted in a complete randomized design with four levels of digestible lysine (0.94; 0.96; 1.02 e 1.04%), with three replications and eight animals each. The experimental period lasted 28 days. The feed intake was reduced and feed:gain ration improved linearly with increase digestible lysine levels in diets. Final, slaughter and hot carcass weights, carcass yield, amount of lean meat and payment index increase linearly with increase of digestible lysine levels. There was no effect of digestible lysine levels on daily gain, farm to slaughter shrink and lean meat percent. In conclusion, in diets with 5 ppm ractopamine, 1.04% digestible lysine improve feed:gain ration and increase final weight, carcass weight and yield, amount of lean meat and payment index of carcass of pigs.(AU)

Objetivou-se avaliar níveis de lisina digestível em dietas contendo 5 ppm de ractopamina sobre o desempenho e características quantitativas de carcaça de suínos em fase de terminação. Foram utilizados 96 suínos, sendo 48 machos castrados e 48 fêmeas, com peso inicial de 83,57 ± 4,07kg, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com quatro níveis de lisina digestível (0,94; 0,96; 1,02 e 1,04%), com três repetições de oito animais cada. O período experimental teve duração de 28 dias. O consumo de ração diário reduziu e a conversão alimentar melhorou linearmente de acordo com o aumento dos níveis de lisina digestível das dietas. Os pesos final, de frigorífico e de carcaça quente, o rendimento de carcaça, a quantidade de carne magra e o índice de bonificação aumentaram linearmente de acordo com o aumento dos níveis de lisina digestível. Não houve efeito dos níveis de lisina digestível sobre o ganho de peso diário, perda de peso durante o transporte e a porcentagem de carne magra da carcaça. Concluiu-se que, em dietas contendo 5ppm de ractopamina, o nível de 1,04% de lisina digestível melhora a conversão alimentar e aumenta o peso final, o peso e o rendimento de carcaça, a quantidade de carne magra e o índice de bonificação das carcaças dos suínos.(AU)

Levels of digestible lysine in diets with ractopamine for finishing pigs / Níveis de lisina digestível em dietas contendo ractopamina para suínos em terminação

The objective was to evaluate levels of digestible lysine in diets with 5ppm of ractopamine on performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs. Ninety-six pigs, 48 barrows and gilts with initial body weight of 83.57 ± 4.07kg, were sorted in a complete randomized design with four levels of digestible lysine (0.94; 0.96; 1.02 e 1.04%), with three replications and eight animals each. The experimental period lasted 28 days. The feed intake was reduced and feed:gain ration improved linearly with increase digestible lysine levels in diets. Final, slaughter and hot carcass weights, carcass yield, amount of lean meat and payment index increase linearly with increase of digestible lysine levels. There was no effect of digestible lysine levels on daily gain, farm to slaughter shrink and lean meat percent. In conclusion, in diets with 5 ppm ractopamine, 1.04% digestible lysine improve feed:gain ration and increase final weight, carcass weight and yield, amount of lean meat and payment index of carcass of pigs.

Objetivou-se avaliar níveis de lisina digestível em dietas contendo 5 ppm de ractopamina sobre o desempenho e características quantitativas de carcaça de suínos em fase de terminação. Foram utilizados 96 suínos, sendo 48 machos castrados e 48 fêmeas, com peso inicial de 83,57 ± 4,07kg, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com quatro níveis de lisina digestível (0,94; 0,96; 1,02 e 1,04%), com três repetições de oito animais cada. O período experimental teve duração de 28 dias. O consumo de ração diário reduziu e a conversão alimentar melhorou linearmente de acordo com o aumento dos níveis de lisina digestível das dietas. Os pesos final, de frigorífico e de carcaça quente, o rendimento de carcaça, a quantidade de carne magra e o índice de bonificação aumentaram linearmente de acordo com o aumento dos níveis de lisina digestível. Não houve efeito dos níveis de lisina digestível sobre o ganho de peso diário, perda de peso durante o transporte e a porcentagem de carne magra da carcaça. Concluiu-se que, em dietas contendo 5ppm de ractopamina, o nível de 1,04% de lisina digestível melhora a conversão alimentar e aumenta o peso final, o peso e o rendimento de carcaça, a quantidade de carne magra e o índice de bonificação das carcaças dos suínos.