Livestock Science最新文献

{"title":"Adaptive farrowing: Piglet mortality and the lactation performance and welfare of sows","authors":"Lauren Radtke ,&nbsp;Marion Magnan ,&nbsp;Ryan Clarkson ,&nbsp;Honglin Rong ,&nbsp;Katie McDermott","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105874","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105874","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There is growing pressure to remove farrowing crates from pig production. This study aimed to provide robust, commercial-scale data on the effect of temporarily crating on reproductive success, behaviour and welfare of sows. This study involved 666 sows crated (JLF15) for 24 h before parturition (D0) and two days of lactation (<em>C</em> + 2, <em>n</em> = 166), 24 h before parturition and four days of lactation (<em>C</em> + 4, <em>n</em> = 167), loose for farrowing and lactation (L, <em>n</em> = 167) or farrowed loose and then crated for four days of lactation (<em>L</em> + 4, <em>n</em> = 166). Piglets were weighed at birth, D7 and weaning. Sows were scored for body condition, lameness, shoulder sores and cleanliness upon entering and exiting the farrowing house. From one batch (<em>n</em> = 50) CCTV footage for behaviour analysis (D1–8 of lactation) and faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentration (D-2, D0, D2, D4, D7, D14, D28) were collected. <em>C</em> + 4 sows showed 4.6 % lower piglet mortality than L sows (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01) and weaned 0.6 more piglets per litter (<em>P</em> = 0.009). Litters from L sows were approximately 4 kg heavier at weaning than <em>C</em> + 4 and <em>L</em> + 4 litters (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Activity increased in the mornings and after crate opening. Once released from the crate, sows showed a similar behavioural repertoire to loose housed sows, with increased exploration and positive contact with piglets. There was no lasting effect of crating on sow stress throughout lactation or differences in physical welfare indicators. Temporary crating for four days postpartum and one day pre-partum provides an alternative to improve sow welfare in an intensive production environment whilst maximising piglet survival.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"303 ","pages":"Article 105874"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786962","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modelling the cost of ewe mortality in New Zealand sheep flocks","authors":"Anne L Ridler ,&nbsp;Rene A Corner-Thomas ,&nbsp;Peter Tozer","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105877","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105877","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>Reported ewe mortality rates in extensively farmed sheep flocks range from 2.9–12.8%. Most deaths occur over the lambing period, and many are potentially preventable or treatable. An understanding of the costs of ewe mortality would allow farmers to determine which interventions are most cost-effective.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>Use a dynamic bioeconomic model to investigate the impacts of ewe mortality on cash operating surplus for New Zealand sheep flocks.</div></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><div>An existing dataset of 23 flocks was used which comprised data on ewe numbers throughout the year, ewe deaths, reproductive data and farm demographic data (location, size, topography and stock numbers). Each flock was modelled using economic data for the 2023 financial year. Cash operating surplus per ewe (COS/ewe) was generated for each flock using their actual death rates. For flocks with death rates &gt;4%, the effects on COS/ewe were also modelled based on a reduction in ewe deaths by 20% or 50%.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>Flocks with higher ewe death rates had lower COS/ewe, with an overall correlation of 0.58. Reducing deaths by 20% and 50% resulted in an increased COS/ewe of NZ$1.12 to $2.66/ewe and NZ$2.89 to $6.67/ewe, respectively. Multiplying these numbers by the total number of ewes in their flock provides guidance to producers on how much they could spend to reduce the death rate of their ewes.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>Producers can use the results, along with their flock-specific ewe mortality data, to determine cost-effective strategies to reduce ewe mortality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"303 ","pages":"Article 105877"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of individual animal characteristics on beef cattle performance while grazing northern temperate rangeland","authors":"Francisco J. Novais ,&nbsp;Carolyn J. Fitzsimmons ,&nbsp;Hailey Bolen ,&nbsp;Le Luo Guan ,&nbsp;Changxi Li ,&nbsp;John A. Basarab ,&nbsp;Amir Behrouzi ,&nbsp;Cameron N. Carlyle ,&nbsp;Sydney G. Lopes ,&nbsp;Ankhtsetseg Battur ,&nbsp;Sangweon Na ,&nbsp;Temitope Oloyede ,&nbsp;Graham Plastow ,&nbsp;Valentine Udeh ,&nbsp;Edward W. Bork","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105857","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105857","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluated the effects of age, genomic retained heterozygosity (gRHET), and residual feed intake corrected for back-fat thickness (RFI_fat) on weight gain in heifers, cows, and calves grazing native pasture over three years (2021–2023), during summer and fall in a northern temperate region. Three groups were studied: A) annual cohorts of 1-year-old heifers and 3-year-old Kinsella Composite (KC) crossbred cows (<em>n</em>= 182); B) a multi-aged purebred Angus cow herd (3–11 years; <em>n</em>= 133) monitored for one year; and C) a multi-aged KC crossbred cow herd (3–9 years; <em>n</em>= 132) tracked for one year. Average daily gain (ADG) was generally higher in summer than fall, except in 2023 within the multi-aged cattle when increased fall precipitation influenced ADG in crossbred cows. Pre-weaning calves gained more weight in summer (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). Among crossbred cows, age and RFI_fat were key predictors of ADG, with older cows (&gt;9 years) consistently gaining less weight (3 yr old = 0.49 ± 0.073; 9 yr old = 0.22 ± 0.15; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). RFI_fat measured as heifers was negatively associated with their ADG (β = -0.0937; <em>P</em>= 0.02) in multi-aged cattle, particularly during fall, suggesting moderate life-stage consistency. In purebred Angus cows, fall ADG also declined with age, and cow and calf performance were linked: higher cow ADG often correlated with lower calf weaning weights, especially in older cows (&gt;10-yr old), indicating a trade-off in energy allocation. Additionally, higher maternal gRHET in crossbreds was associated with increased calf ADG in fall (β = 0.63; <em>P</em>= 0.022), supporting the value of retained heterozygosity in grazing-based production systems. These results highlight the importance of intrinsic traits, age, genomic diversity, and early-life feed efficiency, in optimizing productivity in pasture-based beef systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"303 ","pages":"Article 105857"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145622368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Economic perspective of expanded space allowance for group-housed gestating sows: Aligning profitability and welfare compliance","authors":"Laya Kannan Silva Alves ,&nbsp;Camila Raineri ,&nbsp;Monique Danielle Pairis-Garcia ,&nbsp;Cesar Augusto Pospissil Garbossa","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105858","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105858","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of gestation crates in pig production has been increasingly questioned due to their restrictive nature and the growing demand for improved animal welfare. In response, various countries have implemented group housing and space allowance regulations, yet the economic impacts of transitioning to these systems remain underexplored, despite being crucial for producer adoption and long-term sustainability. The objective of this study was to evaluate the economic implications of transitioning to welfare-compliant housing systems for gestating sows, with particular attention to increased space allowance required in group housing. Specifically, we compared three housing systems: conventional stalls, group housing fully implemented after breeding (AB-GH), and group housing with limited stall use until pregnancy confirmation (PPC-GH), in terms of production costs and profitability. The study combined farm data, benchmark information, and expert opinions with a deterministic cost model to calculate key economic indicators and conduct sensitivity analyses in four stages: selection and characterization of farms using each housing system, collection of productive and economic data, application of a cost model to calculate key economic indicators, and a sensitivity analysis simulating incremental improvements in reproductive performance. Results showed that while the conventional stall system had the lowest production costs and highest economic profit under baseline conditions, both PPC-GH and AB-GH systems maintained profitability, with returns on investment exceeding 55 %. Cost increases in group housing systems were mainly attributed to infrastructure, maintenance, and opportunity costs related to expanded space allowance. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that modest improvements in reproductive efficiency—such as a 1 % increase in the number of weaned piglets per sow per year—significantly enhanced economic outcomes in both group housing systems, increasing economic profit by 1.64 % in the AB-GH system and 1.63 % in the PPC-GH system. In conclusion, the study confirms that compliance with animal welfare regulations through the adoption of group housing systems can be economically viable. When coupled with improvements in management and productivity, these systems offer a sustainable path for swine producers aligning with welfare standards and maintaining competitiveness in the global market.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"303 ","pages":"Article 105858"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145622416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cecal acidosis: an emergent digestive disorder in ruminants","authors":"Pedro Henrique Cavalcante Ribeiro ,&nbsp;Leandro Aparecido Ferreira da Silva ,&nbsp;Daniel Moretto Casali ,&nbsp;Ariany Faria de Toledo ,&nbsp;Danilo Domingues Millen","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105875","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105875","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The cecum harbors a microbiome adapted to synthesizing SCFA through the fermentation of post-ruminal substrates. Strategically shifting the site of partial or total digestion of specific dietary components from the rumen to the intestine affects the starch digestion rate in the GIT and the energy efficiency of the animals. However, due to its simpler epithelial structure compared to the rumen, the cecum is more sensitive to fluctuations in the luminal environment’s chemical composition. An increased fermentation rate, elevated SCFA synthesis, and reduced luminal pH can trigger cecal acidosis, leading to epithelial lesions and increased intestinal permeability that allows endotoxins to enter the bloodstream. Although the metabolic disturbance is similar to SARA, more intense disruptions are generally required to induce SARA than cecal acidosis. In contrast, disturbances in the cecum, located in the distal portion of the gastrointestinal tract, are typically more subclinical and less immediately detectable, especially in ruminants exposed to high-starch diets only during the finishing phase. In such cases, the duration of exposure may be insufficient to significantly impact productive performance or be associated with other metabolic disorders. However, when high-concentrate feeding strategies are adopted from the early stages of development or in long production phases, such as in dairy cattle, cecal acidosis may evolve into a more severe fermentative disorder, potentially compromising gut health and nutrient utilization efficiency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"303 ","pages":"Article 105875"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Short-term behavioural patterns of sheep under extensive solar grazing management with sun-tracking photovoltaic modules","authors":"Caroline Siede ,&nbsp;Friederike Rethmeyer ,&nbsp;Lisa Wilms ,&nbsp;Lars Zinken ,&nbsp;Franziska Kunz ,&nbsp;Rahel Sutterlütti ,&nbsp;Lena Weber ,&nbsp;Masud Hamidi ,&nbsp;Manfred Kayser ,&nbsp;Johannes Isselstein ,&nbsp;Dina Hamidi","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105880","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105880","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Renewable energies, such as photovoltaic (PV) systems, are becoming increasingly important in the context of climate change. PV systems on grassland with small ruminants, i.e., solar grazing, appears to be an effective combination of agricultural and energy production. A case study was conducted to analyse the effects of sun-tracking PV modules on the spatio-temporal behaviour pattern of sheep using GPS sensors. This was done during two grazing periods (June/ September, each 8 days) with (i) sheep experienced with solar grazing (period 1) and (ii) sheep naïve to solar grazing (period 2) in a PV system on grassland in Germany. The trial site consisted of two equal-sized sectors (with/ without PV modules) divided into 80 polygon grid cells (5 × 5 m). Herbage samples were taken in each sector and period for quality analysis. The sheep were free to move between the sectors. The amount of time the sheep spent in each sector varied between the grazing periods (with the experienced sheep spending more time from the beginning in the sector with PV modules) but appeared to be mainly influenced by the presence of the PV modules, the time of day and hourly air temperature. Herbage mass pre-grazing was greater in the sector with PV modules (period 1; <em>p</em> &lt; 0.0001). In both sectors and periods, herbage mass, the concentrations of crude protein and metabolizable energy were sufficient for the nutritional maintenance of sheep. Our short-term study was effective in providing initial insights into the system of sheep husbandry in free-field PV systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"303 ","pages":"Article 105880"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing the effect of transitioning from tie-stalls to free-stalls with automatic milking system on dairy cattle welfare, milk production, and the environmental sustainability","authors":"Stefania Celozzi,&nbsp;Aldo Calcante,&nbsp;Maddalena Zucali,&nbsp;Martina Pavesi,&nbsp;Stefania Colombini,&nbsp;Silvana Mattiello,&nbsp;Monica Battini","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105878","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105878","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluated the effects of transitioning from tie-stalls to free-stalls with an Automatic Milking System (AMS) on the welfare, productivity, feed consumption, and environmental impact of lactating Holstein Friesian cows over the course of one year in a small-scale farm. Cow welfare improved significantly after the transition, particularly for clinical indicators (e.g., 100 % reduction in hindquarter, neck/shoulder and back injuries), lying synchronization (+2.6 ± 9.27 %), and affiliative behaviours, such as social licking, which were observed exclusively in this system (0.09 events/cow). Daily milk production increased after the transition (+16 %); other production measures, including milk quality and reproductive performance, showed an improving trend, although not statistically significant, with the exception of milk fat content, which showed no improvement. Feeding behaviour differed before and after transition, with variations in the sorting index and concentrate proportions of the diet, though feed intake remained adequate. Energy consumption for milking ranged from 2.69 kWh per 100 kg of milk before the transition to an estimated 1.5–3 kWh after the transition, suggesting that AMS did not provide a significant energy-saving advantage. Importantly, the introduction of AMS played a key role in mitigating environmental impact, with a climate change mitigation of 27 %. This reduction was primarily associated with increased milk production, which diluted the system's overall environmental impact.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"303 ","pages":"Article 105878"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145839511","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of dietary fat supplementation on enteric methane mitigation and farm profitability: A case study of an organic and a conventional dairy herd","authors":"Natasha Jørgensen,&nbsp;Long Chen,&nbsp;Vivi M. Thorup,&nbsp;Martin R. Weisbjerg,&nbsp;Søren Østergaard","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105856","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105856","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dietary fat supplementation is widely recognized as a mitigation strategy for enteric methane (CH₄) emissions in dairy production, yet limited information exists on its impact at the herd level and its implications for farm profitability. Here, we used a herd simulation model to assess the impact of fat supplementation on herd-level CH₄ intensity (g CH₄/kg ECM) and gross margin. The simulation was conducted in digital twins of two real dairy herds - one organic and one conventional. For each herd, we simulated four scenarios combining two levels of supplemental fatty acids (FA), namely 10 (FA10) and 15 (FA15) g/kg DM, with two application periods: the full lactation period and from week 5 of lactation. The results showed that supplemented FA reduced herd-level enteric CH₄ intensity by 3.8 to 7.2 %. This reduction was influenced by both the basal diet's FA content and the amount supplemented. The gross margin decreased across all scenarios in both herds, with a greater reduction observed in the conventional herd. Supplementing FA from week 5 of lactation had a minor effect on both herd CH₄ intensity and gross margin compared to full lactation application. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the change in ECM as a result of fat supplementation influenced both herd CH₄ intensity and gross margin, whereas the variation in milk price impacted gross margin, highlighting the need for cautious practice. Our findings emphasised the importance of analysing the cost-effectiveness of emission mitigation strategies to support informed farm decision-making.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"303 ","pages":"Article 105856"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145733585","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modelling approaches for the estimation of genetic parameters for calving ease and stillbirth in German Holstein dairy cattle","authors":"Sina Sakhaeifar,&nbsp;Sven König","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105855","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105855","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The aim of the present study was to apply alternative modelling approaches for genetic evaluations of stillbirth (SB) and calving ease (CE) from the dam perspective, enabling consideration of a longitudinal data and genetic covariance structure across lactations. We considered a comprehensive dataset including 435,489 calf records for CE and 477,800 calf records for SB from the birth years 2001 to 2017, and genotype data including 41,304 SNPs from 24,133 animals. The calves with phenotypes were offspring from 184,012 Holstein Friesian (HF) cows for SB, and from 177,162 HF cows for CE. The calves and cows were kept in 45 large-scale German dairy contract herds. The applied three genetic-statistical models based on single-step methodology considering both pedigree and genomic relationship matrices. In the “classical” model 1, we allocated SB and CE observations to the calf by considering direct and maternal genetic effects with their respective covariances. Model 2 was a multiple-trait model (MTM) by allocating the observations to the dam and considering same traits in different parities as different traits. Accordingly, in the random regression model (RRM), SB and CE were defined as a trait of a dam and analyzed on a continuous parity scale by considering random regression coefficients for additive-genetic effects of intercept and slope. From both models MTM and RRM, we observed a gradual decrease of additive genetic variances and maternal heritabilities with increasing parity. Genetic correlations between same traits from different parities were larger than 0.80 for adjacent parities, but declined with increasing parity distance. Correlations between maternal genomic breeding values (GEBV) from the two different models MTM and RRM for the same trait and parity were throughout larger than 0.80, and in the range from 0.68 to 0.88 with the maternal GEBV from model 1. Genetic and breeding value correlations close to zero were found between the direct and maternal genetic effects. Correlations between maternal GEBV from the RRM and maternal GEBV from official genetic evaluations were throughout larger than 0.82, and the large rank correlations indicate only minor changes in top lists for sires.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"303 ","pages":"Article 105855"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145622417","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of stocking density and enrichment on hair cortisol, hair dehydroepiandrosterone (sulphate) and their ratio in growing-finishing pigs","authors":"Inonge Reimert ,&nbsp;Tanja Peric ,&nbsp;Matilde Giombolini ,&nbsp;Ewa Sell-Kubiak ,&nbsp;Mathilde Coutant ,&nbsp;Paolo Ferrari ,&nbsp;Anita Zaworska-Zakrzewska ,&nbsp;Alberto Prandi ,&nbsp;Bas Kemp","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105854","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105854","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding how husbandry practices affect chronic stress in growing-finishing pigs is essential to improve their welfare. The objective of this study was therefore to investigate the effect of two important practices, i.e., stocking density and enrichment, within different husbandry systems by studying concentrations of hair cortisol and hair dehydroepiandrosterone (sulphate) (DHEA(S)) and their ratio, as markers for chronic stress. Hereto, in six experiments, various organic and conventional systems were studied in which the stocking density and the level of enrichment varied. We found that a lower stocking density generally resulted in lower hair cortisol and DHEA(S) concentrations, but the effect of stocking density on the hair cortisol/DHEA(S) ratio was less clear. Access to enrichment only tended to result in higher DHEA(S) concentrations in one of the experiments. Furthermore, sex tended to affect or affected hair cortisol, DHEA(S) and/or the ratio only in some of the experiments. These results suggest that a lower stocking density is beneficial for growing-finishing pigs as they seemed to be less chronically stressed. That the enrichment items did not beneficially affect hair cortisol and DHEA(S) was likely due to the relatively small contrast between the control and enriched condition, as the pigs in the control condition already had access to straw. As not much studies have investigated hair DHEA(S) concentrations in pigs, more research is needed to get more insight of this hormone in relation to chronic stress and the effect of sex in pigs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"303 ","pages":"Article 105854"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145578469","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}