The Effect Of Environment Enrichment On Maternal Behavior, Productive Performance, Carcass Traits And Meat Quality Of Min Pig Hybrid Breeds

This study focused on current issues in swine production, combined with the biological characteristics of pigs, designed environment enrichment for Min pig hybrid breeds, and assessed the maternal behavior, productive performance, physiological, immune, carcass traits and meat quality of Min pig hybrid breeds. This study made an attempt to provide scientific basis for create an ideal living environment of Min pig hybrid breeds and provide theory reference for pruduce healthy pork with characteristic of Chinese local breeds.Duroc × Min(DM n=12) sows, Landrace × Min(LM n=12) sows and Landrace × Yorkshire(LY n=12) sows, Yorkshire × Duroc × Min(YDM n=20) finishing pigs, Duroc × Landrace × Min(DLM n=20) finishing pigs and Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire(DLY n=20) finishing pigs were reared in enrichment(E) and barren(B) housing system. Maternal behavior of sows was observed and productive performance, physiological and immune indexes of sows, productive performance, physiological and immune indexes, carcass traits and meat quality of finishing pigs was determined in this study. The aim results are as below:1. The environment enrichment had significant impacts on nesting behavior, lateral behavior and nursing behavior in pre- and postpartum of sows(P <0.05). The duration and frequence of nesting behavior were significantly higher in DM sows and LM sows than LY sows(P <0.05). The duration sitting behaviour of LM sows was significantly lower than LY sows, while the duration of nursing was opposite(P <0.05).2. The piglets weight of 21 d and weaned were significantly greater in the E system than B system(P <0.05). The piglets weight of newborn and 21 d were significantly greater in LY sows than DM sows and LM sows(P <0.01).3, Sows in the E system tended to have higher concentrations of serum oxytocin and prolactin than sows in the B system(P <0.01), whereas the concentration of cortisol showed opposite(P <0.01). The serum concentration oxytocin was significantly higher in DM sows and LM sows than LY sows(P<0.01), but the serum prolactin concentration and IgG concentration were significantly lower than LY sows(P <0.01).5. The houseing system had no significantly impact on productive performance or carcass traits of finishing pigs(P >0.05). The duration of reached 100 kg(P<0.001) and daily gain(P<0.05) were significant higher and lower in YDM and DLM pigs than in DLY pigs. The DLY pigs exhibited thinner back fat and larger loin area than the YDM and DLM pigs(P<0.05).The serum growth hormone concentration fattening pigs was significantly higher in E system than in B system(P <0.01), while the concentration of cortisol was opposite(P <0.01).6, The E system significantly increased the pH after slaughter 24 h(pH24) and the proportion of SFA and C16:0, but decease the proportion of C17:1 compared with B system(P<0.05). The brightness(L*) values and were significant lower than in DLY pigs, while the pH24 was opposite(P<0.05).Environment enrichment housing delivery could reduce the stress of sows and fattening pigs,by providing better conditions for sow maternal behaviour, and improving lactation ability of lactating sow, and weight gain of weaned piglets. However, there was no impact on production performance and carcass quality of fattening pigs, instead of improving their meat quality and fatty acid composition. Hybrid Min pigs were characterizerd as hgher maternal behavior, better adaptation capability, but slightly lower productive performance, and the body fat percentage of fattening pigs were higher, as well asmuscle juiciness.