project - Research and innovation
Flavour learning can reduce weaning stress in piglets
Flavour learning can reduce weaning stress in piglets
Objectives
Weaning is a stressful part of a pig´s life: During weaning the piglet is pushed into an unknown environment together with other stressed piglets, and it suddenly has to eat solid food. For the farmer, the weaning process costs money: food is lost and piglets that do not eat well risk health problems, and needing expensive antibiotics. Finding ways to soften the weaning process would benefit both the pig and the farmer. Making use of piglet´s flavour learning abilities could offer help here.
Objectives
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Additional information
The research project from the University of Wageningen found positive effects of perinatal flavour learning on food intake, growth and behaviour of postweaning piglets: sows were fed either during the last period of their gestation or during lactation with feed that had a light anise flavour. After separation from the sow, the anise flavour was presented to some of the piglets (either through the feed or via the air). When exposed to the anise flavour/smell - those piglets whose mothers had received the anise flavoured feed (before birth or while suckling), performed better than the control animals: They ate and played more, grew better, and generally had fewer difficulties to adjust themselves to the new situation. The results suggest that flavour learning in piglets can cause a reduction of weaning stress by the presence of a familiar flavour/smell.
Project details
- Main funding source
- Other public (national, regional) research funds
Project keyword
1 Practice Abstracts
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