Quantitative indicators of stress in stress-susceptible and stress- resistant breeds of pigs

G.S.G. Spencer

Growth Physiology, Ruakura Agricultural Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1995, 55: 187-189

Changes in plasma concentrations of cortisol, ACTH and free fatty acids were evaluated as quantitative indicators of stress in pigs of stress- susceptible and stress-resistant breeds. The changes in these concentrations following loading, transport and subsequent resting in lairage were examined. Resting concentrations of cortisol were higher (P<0.01) in stress- susceptible Pietrain pigs (44.0 ą 5.7 ug/L) than in stress-resistant Gloucester Old Spots (29.0 ą 3.8 ug/L). Plasma cortisol and ACTH concentrations increased two-fold in both breeds following loading on to a lorry, and more than three-fold after 1 hour transportation; two hours after unloading into lairage, levels had returned to near resting levels in all pigs. Free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations were similar in these breeds of pigs and did not change significantly following loading stress. After transport, FFA levels were approximately double resting levels in both breeds, and returned to basal levels in lairage. These data suggest that cortisol is a quantitative marker of stress in pigs and that, despite different resting cortisol concentrations, stress- susceptible and stress-resistant pigs have similar relative responses to stress, although absolute increases are greater in the stress-susceptible Pietrains.

Keywords: NZSAPAB; stress, transport; loading; pigs; cortisol, ACTH, free fatty acids

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