| Environmental enrichment is often used to improve the well-being of domestic animals and to meet their natural behavior.The environmental enrichment effect of music can reduce the abnormal behavior of humans,non-human primates and rodents.However,little is known about the effects of music on pigs.This study aimed at the piglet’s response to music type,frequency and rhythm characteristics to determine whether the piglet could recognize and to prefer a musical characteristic.This study takes the relative preference of classical music(Mozart sonata K.448)as the stimulation condition,stimulates the piglets for a long time,explores the influence of the music environment on piglet behavior welfare and immunity,and provides a theoretical basis for the enrichment of the music environment.In experiment 1,this study identified whether the piglet has the ability to recognize musical characteristics by observing the piglet’s response to the musical type,frequency and rhythm characteristics.Firstly,we observed the piglet’s preference for music type.Four different types of music(classical,Chinese folk,light music and rock music)were placed in four soundproofed music chambers and played separately at the same time with a total of 12 piglets divided into two groups(one pig at a time)to participate in the test and were tested for 4d to observe the number of visits to music testing chambers and the length of time spent in the music chambers.Their behaviors were observed.The results showed that piglets visited classical and rock music significantly more times than Chinese folk music(P<0.05)and stayed longer in that test chamber(P<0.05),and the number of entries and the time spent in the Chinese folk music was the shortest(P<0.05),and piglets’activity between classical and rock music(standing and walking),lying,feeding,tail wagging and exploration behavior were significantly higher than the other two musical types(Chinese folk music and light music)(P<0.05).Secondly,choosing two types of music that are relatively preferred and not preferred:classical music(preference)and Chinese folk music(not preference),and translated them into a fast-tempo of 200bpm and a slow-tempo of 65bpm,respectively,or a high-frequency(4k-16k Hz),mid-frequency(250-2k Hz)and low-frequency music(32-125 Hz)with different music preferences.The results showed that piglets visited fast-tempo music more often and stayed there longer(P<0.05).The time spent in high-frequency classical music was significantly higher than that in mid-frequency classical music(P<0.05)and low-frequency folk music was significantly higher than that of high-frequency folk music(P<0.05).We also found that piglets exhibited more activity,lying,exploration,tail wagging,and feeding behaviors in fast-tempo music chambers(P<0.05),more lying,activity,tail-wagging,exploration,and feeding behavior in high-frequency classical music(P<0.05),and more lying behavior in low-frequency folk music(P<0.05).In experiment 2,the purpose of this study is to explore the effects of giving repeated music stimulation conditions on piglet behavior and physiological immunity.A total of 72 weaned piglets were divided into three groups,and placed in the music environment of 60-70 dB(Mozart sonata K.448),80-85 dB noise environment(mechanical noise)and control group(quiet environment),giving 6h sound stimulation per day(1000 h-1600 h)from the age of 40 days to the end of the 100th day with the trial duration of 60 days.Observe the behavior activity with the time of music stimuli,and detected serum,salivary cortisol and serum immune factor levels.Observations showed that the pig activity in the music group and noise group increased compared to the control group and decreased in lying(P<0.05).A significant increase in pig’s tail-wagging,playing and exploring behavior in the music environment(P<0.05),and a noisy environment significantly increased the aggressive behavior of pigs(P<0.05).Event behavior(tail wagging,playing,exploring,manipulating,and aggressive)increased its frequency with the duration of sound stimulation.Short-term(7d)music stimulation could reduce serum and salivary cortisol concentration(P<0.05)and increased the level of saliva-secreted immunoglobulin A(P<0.05).Long-term(60d)music stimulus increased stimulation the levels of protein G(IgG),interleukin-2(IL-2),interferon-γ(IFN-γ)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)(P<0.05),reducing IL-4 levels(P<0.05).Long term noise stimulation reduced serum IgG concentration(P<0.05)and increased saliva SIgA levels(P<0.05),with no significant effect on IL-2,IL-4,IL-8,TNF-α and IFN-y levels(P<0.05).There was no significant effect on the weight gain and weight ratio of pigs by music and noise stimulation(P<0.05).In conclusion,1)piglets visited classical music and rock music more times and stayed longer time than Chinese folk music and light music,showing more lying,tail wagging,exploration and activity behavior.No matter what type of music,piglets are more likely to prefer fast-tempo music.Moreover,piglets prefer high-frequency classical and low-frequency folk music;2)The music environment makes piglet behavior expression more abundant,the behavioral indicators that respond to positive emotions such as tail-wagging,playing and exploring behaviors increases,and behavior with the sound repeated stimulation shows the regularity of time,short-term music stimulation reduces stress,long-term music stimulation enhances the body’s immunity.The noise environment increases the aggressive behavior of pigs,and long-term noise stimulation reduces the body’s immune level.Long-term music and noise stimuli did not affect piglet performance. |
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