MHS status and salivary cortisol concentration in individually housed pigs

Nataša SIARD; Ivan ŠTUHEC

doi:10.14720/aas.2006.88.1.15058

Authors

Nataša SIARD Univ. of Ljubljani, Biotechnical Fac., Zootechnical Dept., Groblje 3, SI-1230 Domale, Slovenia
Ivan ŠTUHEC Univ. of Ljubljani, Biotechnical Fac., Zootechnical Dept., Groblje 3, SI-1230 Domale, Slovenia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14720/aas.2006.88.1.15058

Keywords:

pigs, animal physiology, endocrinology, malignant hyperthermia, saliva, plasma, cortisol

Abstract

Salivary cortisol was evaluated as stress measure in pigs of two malignant hyperthermia (MH)
genotypes (NN and Nn), housed individually in metabolic cages and in comfortable large pens
with straw. Three replicates were done, each including 8 German Landrace barrows, four (2 NN,
2 Nn) housed in pens and four (2 NN, 2 Nn) in metabolic cages. Altogether there were 24
animals included in the experiment. Saliva samples of all animals were collected simultaneously
every 15 minutes between 8.00 and 11.00 a.m. on days 8, 22 and 36 of the experiment. Pigs in
more stressful conditions (metabolic cages) had higher salivary cortisol values than pigs in pens,
indicating that salivary cortisol might be a suitable indicator of stress in pigs. Higher salivary
cortisol values in NN- in comparison to Nn- pigs indicated stronger response to stressful
conditions in NN-genotype.