Adapted Original Music as an Environmental Enrichment in an Intensive Pig Production System Reduced Aggression in Weaned Pigs during Regrouping
In intensive swine production systems,, the practice of regrouping unfamiliar pigs is common, often leading to aggressive behavior. Although the effect of different musical genres composed for humans has been evaluated in pigs to mitigate aggression, there have been few attempts to create music spec...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-11-01
|
| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/23/3599 |
| _version_ | 1797400527022063616 |
|---|---|
| author | Natalia Alvarez-Hernandez Darío Vallejo-Timarán Berardo de Jesús Rodriguez |
| author_facet | Natalia Alvarez-Hernandez Darío Vallejo-Timarán Berardo de Jesús Rodriguez |
| author_sort | Natalia Alvarez-Hernandez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In intensive swine production systems,, the practice of regrouping unfamiliar pigs is common, often leading to aggressive behavior. Although the effect of different musical genres composed for humans has been evaluated in pigs to mitigate aggression, there have been few attempts to create music specifically for pigs. Here, we assess whether sensory stimulation through music, created by adapting the acoustic parameters in the sound mix, induces changes in the aggressive behaviors of pigs during regrouping. Six litters of 10-week-old piglets were randomly selected and assigned to different treatments. The control group (Group A) received no intervention, while Group B was exposed to music for two continuous hours in the morning and afternoon from the time of regrouping. Group C received musical stimulation for one continuous hour in the morning following regrouping. A significant reduction in the frequency and duration of aggressive behaviors was observed in the groups that received musical stimulation during regrouping. Additionally, social, and individual play behaviors showed a decrease in the musical stimulation groups. These findings provide evidence for the effectiveness of created music as a strategy in reducing aggressive behavior during pig regrouping, which can enhance the welfare of pigs and offer a practical solution for pig producers to minimize aggression and its associated negative impacts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:56:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-78506e5610774b19838d9070d258e792 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:56:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-78506e5610774b19838d9070d258e7922023-12-08T15:10:24ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-11-011323359910.3390/ani13233599Adapted Original Music as an Environmental Enrichment in an Intensive Pig Production System Reduced Aggression in Weaned Pigs during RegroupingNatalia Alvarez-Hernandez0Darío Vallejo-Timarán1Berardo de Jesús Rodriguez2QUIRON Pathobiology Research Group, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ciudadela de Robledo, University of Antioquia—UdeA, Carrera 75 No. 65-87, Medellín 050034, ColombiaColombian Agricultural Research Corporation—AGROSAVIA, Obonuco Research Center, Pasto 520038, ColombiaQUIRON Pathobiology Research Group, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ciudadela de Robledo, University of Antioquia—UdeA, Carrera 75 No. 65-87, Medellín 050034, ColombiaIn intensive swine production systems,, the practice of regrouping unfamiliar pigs is common, often leading to aggressive behavior. Although the effect of different musical genres composed for humans has been evaluated in pigs to mitigate aggression, there have been few attempts to create music specifically for pigs. Here, we assess whether sensory stimulation through music, created by adapting the acoustic parameters in the sound mix, induces changes in the aggressive behaviors of pigs during regrouping. Six litters of 10-week-old piglets were randomly selected and assigned to different treatments. The control group (Group A) received no intervention, while Group B was exposed to music for two continuous hours in the morning and afternoon from the time of regrouping. Group C received musical stimulation for one continuous hour in the morning following regrouping. A significant reduction in the frequency and duration of aggressive behaviors was observed in the groups that received musical stimulation during regrouping. Additionally, social, and individual play behaviors showed a decrease in the musical stimulation groups. These findings provide evidence for the effectiveness of created music as a strategy in reducing aggressive behavior during pig regrouping, which can enhance the welfare of pigs and offer a practical solution for pig producers to minimize aggression and its associated negative impacts.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/23/3599animal welfareagonistic behaviormusicplay behaviormixing pigs |
| spellingShingle | Natalia Alvarez-Hernandez Darío Vallejo-Timarán Berardo de Jesús Rodriguez Adapted Original Music as an Environmental Enrichment in an Intensive Pig Production System Reduced Aggression in Weaned Pigs during Regrouping Animals animal welfare agonistic behavior music play behavior mixing pigs |
| title | Adapted Original Music as an Environmental Enrichment in an Intensive Pig Production System Reduced Aggression in Weaned Pigs during Regrouping |
| title_full | Adapted Original Music as an Environmental Enrichment in an Intensive Pig Production System Reduced Aggression in Weaned Pigs during Regrouping |
| title_fullStr | Adapted Original Music as an Environmental Enrichment in an Intensive Pig Production System Reduced Aggression in Weaned Pigs during Regrouping |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adapted Original Music as an Environmental Enrichment in an Intensive Pig Production System Reduced Aggression in Weaned Pigs during Regrouping |
| title_short | Adapted Original Music as an Environmental Enrichment in an Intensive Pig Production System Reduced Aggression in Weaned Pigs during Regrouping |
| title_sort | adapted original music as an environmental enrichment in an intensive pig production system reduced aggression in weaned pigs during regrouping |
| topic | animal welfare agonistic behavior music play behavior mixing pigs |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/23/3599 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nataliaalvarezhernandez adaptedoriginalmusicasanenvironmentalenrichmentinanintensivepigproductionsystemreducedaggressioninweanedpigsduringregrouping AT dariovallejotimaran adaptedoriginalmusicasanenvironmentalenrichmentinanintensivepigproductionsystemreducedaggressioninweanedpigsduringregrouping AT berardodejesusrodriguez adaptedoriginalmusicasanenvironmentalenrichmentinanintensivepigproductionsystemreducedaggressioninweanedpigsduringregrouping |