| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Bernardino, Thiago
;
Carvalho, Carla Patricia Teodoro
;
Batissaco, Leonardo
;
Celeghini, Eneiva Carla Carvalho
;
Zanella, Adroaldo Jose
Total Authors: 5
|
| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | PLoS One; v. 17, n. 5, p. 12-pg., 2022-01-01. |
| Abstract | |
In commercial pig breeding farms, boars are often exposed to stressful situations, such as confined housing conditions, inadequate environmental temperature, food restriction, lameness, diseases, among other challenges. Confined housing conditions, such as crates, are reported as a major source of stress for pregnant sows, and were banned in the UK and in Europe, however there is limited information about the impact of this housing system for boars. The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of three different housing conditions for boars and the consequence on the testicles. We studied 27 crossbred boars (F1 large white and landrace), housed in crates (n = 9), pens (n = 9), or enriched pens (n = 9), during 10 weeks. We collected data of scrotal superficies mean temperature (SSMT) with a thermal camera; we measured testicular parenchyma perfusion (ultrasound evaluation); and we measured sperm characteristics. We found that boars housed in crates had a higher SSMT (p < 0.05) and higher testicular parenchyma perfusion than boars housed in pens and enriched pens (p = 0.01). Regarding the semen features, we found that boars housed in crates showed more agglutinated semen, and higher values of linear curved linear velocity (VCL) than boars housed in pens and enriched pens, both indicators of reduced fertility. These results indicates that boars housed in pens and in enriched pens showed better indicators of testicular health, better sperm motility features (VCL, p = 0.046), and less agglutinated sperm (p < 0;05) than that observed in boars kept in crates. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 17/05604-2 - Boar welfare influence in the quality of the gametes |
| Grantee: | Thiago Bernardino de Almeida |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |
| FAPESP's process: | 18/01082-4 - The male contribution for the development of robust phenotypes and the mitigating role of good sow welfare |
| Grantee: | Adroaldo Jose Zanella |
| Support Opportunities: | Regular Research Grants |