| Title: | Identification of Faecal Maternal Semiochemicals in Swine (Sus scrofa) and their Effects on Weaned Piglets |
| Author(s): | Aviles-Rosa EO; Surowiec K; McGlone J; |
| Address: | "Laboratory of Animal Behavior, Physiology and Welfare, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Collage of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resourses, Texas Tech University, 1248 Indiana Ave, Lubbock, TX, 79415, USA. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Texas Tech Universtity, 2500 Broadway, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA. Laboratory of Animal Behavior, Physiology and Welfare, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Collage of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resourses, Texas Tech University, 1248 Indiana Ave, Lubbock, TX, 79415, USA. john.mcglone@ttu.edu" |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s41598-020-62280-9 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 2045-2322 (Electronic) 2045-2322 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Piglets are attracted to maternal faeces early in life. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify faecal maternal semiochemicals that attract piglets and evaluate their effects on piglets at weaning. Faecal samples were collected from eight sows during gestation and lactation. Faecal semiochemicals were extracted and identified using solid phase extraction and GC/MS. A total of 26 volatiles were present in lactating and gestating sow faeces. Sows secreted no unique semiochemical after farrowing. However, the concentration of skatole and myristic acid were 2.68 and 1.13 times higher after farrowing. A free-choice preference assessment showed that piglets had a preference for a feeder sprayed with a solution containing skatole and myristic acid. No preference was found when feeders were sprayed with skatole and myristic acid individually. The application of skatole and myristic acid to the feeders of weaned pigs significantly reduced piglet aggression by 30% and tended to increase feeding behaviour by 35% the first 24 h post-weaning. These results suggest that skatole and myristic acid might be acting as a multicomponent maternal signal that attracts piglets and has a calming effect at weaning" |
| Keywords: | Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena Animals Feces/*chemistry Female Lactation Male Nutritive Value Pheromones/*analysis/*pharmacology Pregnancy Swine Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis Weaning; |
| Notes: | "MedlineAviles-Rosa, Edgar O Surowiec, Kaz McGlone, John eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2020/03/27 Sci Rep. 2020 Mar 24; 10(1):5349. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-62280-9" |
