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Indigenous poultry breeds represent an important animal genetic resource. However, their characteristics in respect of performance, product quality, and integument condition are often poorly investigated. Therefore, the local breeds Saxonian chickens (SaChi) and German Langshan bantam chickens (GLB) of different plumage colors were characterized. The high-performing hybrid strain of Lohmann brown chickens (LB) served as the control group. For each group, 60 hens and 6 roosters were studied in an extensive free-range system from 21 to 80 wk of life. The plumage and foot pad quality were scored on 9 distinct observation dates and the measurements of the egg quality were performed at 7 different time periods. The number of eggs per hen housed in the first laying year was significantly lower in the SaChi (146.4 ± 30.8) and the GLB chickens (107.8 ± 20.4) when compared to the LB chickens (295.0 ± 16.8) (P < 0.001). Regarding laying performance, we detected effects of plumage color within both local breeds (P < 0.001). Within 4/7 plumage colors, effects of the breeder were also found (P ≤ 0.037). The eggs of the local chicken breeds showed lower egg weights (P < 0.001), shell breaking strength (P ≤ 0.041), albumen consistency (P < 0.001), and a lower egg shape index (P < 0.001), but higher proportions of yolk (P < 0.001) when compared to the eggs of the LB chickens. The logistic regression models for the plumage and footpad condition demonstrated that the SaChi and GLB hens underwent less plumage loss and footpad swelling than the LB hens (P < 0.001). Overall, this study shows that the laying performance of the local breeds was significantly lower, but there were noticeable advantages in terms of egg composition and animal welfare indicators when compared to a high-performing hybrid strain. In further studies and the use in extensive production systems, the observed performance differences between plumage colors and breeders should be taken into account.

In Senegal, in recent years the rural sector has undergone major reforms which are partly due to macroeconomic policy reforms adopted by the Senegalese government. Therefore, all the actors of economic and social development have a common concern and share in promoting rural agriculture (Bernard et al., 2008). Changes observed in the agricultural and rural sector reflect the will of the actors to have a productive, competitive, and sustainable agriculture system in order to ensure food security (International Monetary Fund, 2011). The purpose of the study is to develop a set of recommendations to improve the educational program planning and teaching skills of educators in the extension system by focusing on extension educators' approaches to teaching farmers and cart owners animal welfare practices for proper care of working animals. The extension agents and teachers involved in the animal husbandry and animal extension system in Thies and Bambey served as participants in this study. This descriptive qualitative study connected qualitative data derived from participant interviews, qualitative document analysis, observations of an educational program planning professional development program for state agents and university faculty members in Diourbel and Thies regions, as well as a final focus group to allow participants clarification of preliminary themes found in the data. The findings revealed 11 themes: characteristics of the participants, job expectation and responsibilities, institutional and organizational factors, capacity building and professional development plans, diagnostics of the extension system, regulations and legislations, limited sources of information, limited knowledge and skills technologies, recommendations for utilizing student-centered teaching practices, standard welfare for animal husbandry, recommendation for acceptance and improvement standard animal welfare related to the four research questions which addressed the topics of challenging current teaching methods used in the extension system for other owners of animal species in the animal extension programs, the use of student-centered teaching practices in extension education and university instruction, and the level assistance given to farmers in order to ensure accepted standards of animal welfare working animal and other animal species in the animal husbandry system. / Master of Science in Life Sciences / In Senegal, in recent years the rural sector has undergone major reforms which are partly due to macroeconomic policy reforms adopted by the Senegalese government. Therefore, all the actors of economic and social development have a common concern and share in promoting rural agriculture (Bernard et al., 2008). Changes observed in the agricultural and rural sector reflect the will of the actors to have a productive, competitive, and sustainable agriculture system in order to ensure food security (International Monetary Fund, 2011). The purpose of the study is to develop a set of recommendations to improve the educational program planning and teaching skills of educators in the extension system by focusing on extension educators' approaches to teaching farmers and cart owners animal welfare practices for proper care of working animals. The extension agents and teachers involved in the animal husbandry and animal extension system in Thies and Bambey served as participants in this study. The methodology used for this descriptive qualitative study were interviews, qualitative document analysis, observations of an educational and professional development program planning for state agents and university faculty members in Diourbel and Thies regions, as well as a final focus group to allow participants clarification of preliminary themes found in the data. The data collected from participants were connected to the different used qualitative methods to gather data. The 11 themes found in this study were the characteristics of the participants, job expectation and responsibilities, institutional and organizational factors, capacity building and professional development plans, diagnostics of the extension system, regulations and legislations, limited sources of information, limited knowledge and skills technologies, recommendations for utilizing student-centered teaching practices, standard welfare for animal husbandry, recommendation for acceptance and improvement standard animal welfare related to the four research questions which addressed the topics of challenging current teaching methods used in the extension system for other owners of animal species in the animal extension programs, the use of student-centered teaching practices in extension education and university instruction, and the level assistance given to farmers in order to ensure accepted standards of animal welfare working animal and other animal species in the animal husbandry system.

Background: The slaughter of pregnant cattle and the fate of the foetuses are relatively new subjects in the field of animal welfare. The Scientific Committee on Veterinary Measures relating to Public Health (SCVPH), however, does not believe this topic to be a critical issue because of the hitherto supposed rare occurrence of this practice. Some previous studies though, contradict this assessment, emphasising its relevance to animal welfare. With regard to the heterogeneous study design of previous investigations, the objective of this study is to evaluate the current situation concerning the slaughter of pregnant cattle in different German abattoirs. Additionally, the prevalence was assessed semi-quantitatively on the basis of a cross-sectional, voluntary and anonymous survey that was conducted amongst senior veterinary students of the University of Leipzig from 2010 until 2013. Results: Of 255 evaluable questionnaires, 157 (63.6 %) mention the slaughter of pregnant cattle, corresponding to 76.9 % of all visited abattoirs. Slaughter of pregnant cattle is reported often (>10 % of females) in 6 (3.8 %), frequently (1–10 % of females) in 56 (35.7 %), and rarely (<1 % of females) in 95 (60.5 %) of all cases (n = 157) respectively. About 50 % of these animals were reported to be in the second or third stage of gestation. 15 (10.6 %) of 142 questionnaires providing information about the foetus, state that the foetus showed visible vital signs after the death of the mother, but in one case the foetus was euthanized subsequently. Conclusions: The results show that the slaughter of pregnant cattle is a common and widespread practice in German abattoirs. The SCVPH’s assumption that pregnant cattle are only slaughtered in rare exceptional cases can no longer be maintained. The high proportion of foetuses in the second and third gestational stage must also be considered. In this context the implementation of suitable studies and detailed analysis of the current situation is indispensable to ensure the high standards in animal welfare in Germany and Europe.

Thesis (MScAgric (Animal Sciences))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Namibia by nature is very well suited for livestock production and is a net exporter of beef. Beef is currently exported to South Africa, the European Union (EU) and Japan while market access to the United States of America is being explored. Food safety, traceability and lately animal welfare are all aspects which are requested by Namibians trading partners when exporting meat to those countries. The first two aspects have been addressed with the introduction of the Farm Assured Namibian Beef scheme (FAN Meat) which also provides basic guidelines for animal welfare. Beef in Namibia is produced from extensively managed enterprises which are privately owned and managed, or state owned and communally utilized. The events of handling and transport are considered stressful to all animals but especially so to extensively raised animals and their reaction to these events has the potential to severely infringe on their welfare. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of pre-, during, and post-transportation handling on animal welfare status under Namibian transport conditions. The study also investigated the influence of breed on the meat quality of Namibian beef. The level of bruising recorded on slaughter was used to measure animal welfare. Interviews with producers were conducted to describe the pre-transport handling. Questionnaires that included variables considered as important indicators of animal welfare during transport were distributed to truck drivers. Observations of the off-loading event and animal behaviour were completed in lairage at the export abattoir in Windhoek. The variables that were identified as high risk factors and had a significant influence on the level of bruising under Namibian transport conditions include animal factors (i.e. breed type, age, sex, condition and subcutaneous fat cover), pre-transport handling (i.e. re-branding of animals), transport related risks (loading density and animals lying down during transit) as well as lairage factors (i.e. fit of truck floor to off-loading ramp, the way animals moved to holding pens, pen size and minimum environmental temperatures). The influence of breed on meat tenderness and water-holding capacity of the Longissimus dorsi muscle of the four main beef breeds (i.e. Brahman, Bonsmara, Simbrah and Simmental), as well as the effect of different aging periods on meat quality (i.e. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 & 37 days post mortem) were investigated. The Brahman differed significantly (p < 0.05) from the other three breeds in terms of all aging treatments; with higher Warner-Bratzler shear force values reported for this breed. Interactions between days post mortem and breed were found for the Simbrah, and Simmental breeds, which may be indicative of a delayed response to aging of meat samples obtained from Simbrah animals. This can possibly be ascribed to an increased calpastatin activity in these animals. Meat samples obtained from the Bonsmara steers showed the highest rate of tenderization, with this effect retained until day 30 post mortem. Recommendations as pertaining to the ante mortem handling of cattle are made. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Namibië word gekenmerk deur toestande wat uitstekend vir diereproduksie is, met die land wat as ‘n netto uitvoerder van beesvleis beskou word. Vleis word na Suid-Afrika, die Europese Unie (EU) en Japan uitgevoer, met die moontlikheid van die Verenigde State van Amerika wat as ‘n uitvoermark ondersoek word. Voedselveiligheid, naspeurbaarheid en dierewelsyn is drie vereistes wat deur die invoerders van Namibiese vleis daargestel word. Die eerste twee vereistes is reeds deur die implementering van die Farm Assured Namibian beesvleis skema (FAN Meat) aangespreek, met die skema wat basiese riglyne vir dierewelsyn voorskryf. Namibiese beesvleis word geproduseer onder grootskaalse ekstensiewe boerdery omstandighede, wat of privaat besit en bestuur word, of aan die regering behoort en deur plaaslike gemeenskappe benut word. Die invloed van hantering en vervoer is besonder stresvol vir diere en in besonder vir diere wat onder ekstensiewe omstandighede geproduseer word. Omdat diere onder ekstensiewe omstandighede ongewoond aan hantering en vervoer is, kan dié twee aksies ‘n ernstige impak op die welsyn van sulke diere hê. Die doelwit van die studie was om die invloed van hantering voor-, tydens en na-vervoer onder Namibiese vervoertoestande te ondersoek. Die invloed van ras op Namibiese beesvleiskwaliteit is ook ondersoek. Die mate van kneusing waargeneem met slagting was as standaard gebruik om die welsynstatus van diere te bepaal. Onderhoude is met produsente gevoer om inligting oor die pre-vervoer toestande in te win. Vraelyste wat veranderlikes wat as belangrike indikators van dierewelsyn tydens vervoer beskou kan word, ingesluit het, is aan vragmotorbestuurders versprei. Waarnemings van die aflaai en verwante diergedrag was by die houfasiliteite van die uitvoer abattoir in Windhoek, waarnatoe die diere vervoer is, gedoen. Verskeie hoë risiko faktore wat ‘n betekenisvolle invloed op die mate van kneusing wat tydens vervoer opgedoen is, gehad het, is in die studie geïdentifiseer. Hierdie faktore het dierverwante eienskappe (d.i. ras, ouderdom, geslag, liggaamskondisie en onderhuidse vetvoorsiening), voorvervoer hantering (d.i. herbrandmerk van diere), vervoerverwante risiko’s (d.i. aantal diere per trok kompartement en diere wat tydens vervoer gaan lê), asook ontwerp van houfasiliteite (d.i. verbinding tussen trokvloer en laaibrug, die manier wat diere na houkampies beweeg het, grootte van houkampies en lae omgewingstemperature), ingesluit. Die invloed van ras op die sagtheid en waterhouvermoë van die Longissimus dorsi spier van die vier hoof vleisbeesrasse (d.i. Brahman, Bonsmara, Simbrah en Simmentaler), asook verskillende verouderingstydperke op vleiskwaliteit (d.i. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 en 37 dae post mortem) van die vier rasse is ondersoek. Die Brahman het betekenisvol (p < 0.05) van die ander drie rasse in terme van die effek van veroudering op vleiskwaliteit verskil, met hoë Warner-Bratzler skeursterkte waardes wat vir dié ras aangeteken is. ‘n Interaksie tussen aantal dae post mortem en ras is gevind vir die Simbrah en Simmentaler rasse, wat dui op ‘n vertraagde effek van vleisveroudering vir die Simbrah ras, moontlik as gevolg van ‘n hoër mate van kalpastatien aktiwiteit. Vleismonsters bekom van jong Bonsmara bulle het die grootste mate van versagting getoon, met die voordeel wat waargeneem is tot dag 30 van die post mortem vleisveroudering. Aanbevelings betreffende die voorslag hantering van beeste word gemaak.

The common marmoset is the most frequently used New World primate in laboratory research and testing. In the UK, their use is strictly controlled by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act, which is underpinned by the principles of humane science: Replacement, Reduction and Refinement. Despite their use, there are a number of problems associated with the breeding of marmosets, including low dam longevity and increasing litter sizes. Large litters have led to high infant mortality and the need for human intervention to improve infant survival, which involves removal from the family for substantial periods of time. Previous research in a range of primate species shows that early life family separation is associated with numerous adverse behavioural and physiological effects. This project therefore sought to systematically investigate the effects of breeding and infant rearing practices, integrating a number of measures to assess the welfare of laboratory- housed marmosets. Potential predictors of dam longevity and litter size were first identified in three captive UK colonies, over four decades. Dam longevity was found to be approximately 6 years, with heavier dams living longer, but overall there was no consistent improvement in longevity over the decades. As longevity varied widely between colonies and over time, environment may be one of the most important factors. Approximately half of all births at each colony were litters larger than two, and these larger litters had greater infant mortality. Only dam weight at conception was useful in predicting litter size, with heavier dams producing larger litters. The consequences of large litters and early separation from the family for supplementary feeding were then investigated. Although twins had lower body weight than 2stays (two infants remaining with the family after death of the other littermate/s) and supplementary fed triplets, they also had the fewest health problems. There was also some evidence that animals from larger litters were more at risk of suffering from extreme low weight. Some minor differences were found in behavioural development between litter sizes. Singleton infants received more rejective rearing, while 2stays received more protective rearing, perhaps following the loss of an infant. While twin infants gained independence earlier than singletons or 2stays, they did not appear to cope better with stress in adulthood, displaying more significant increases in stress-related behaviour following the routine stressor of capture and weighing, compared to 2stays and supplementary fed triplets. While overall cortisol unexpectedly decreased from baseline to post capture, there were only significant fluctuations in 2stay marmosets. Instead, there were some increases in positive behaviour in supplementary fed triplets following the stressor, suggesting enhanced coping ability. However, in another group of supplementary fed triplets, there were subtle increases in depressive-like symptoms, measured using cognitive bias and preference tests, suggesting a reduced expectation of and interest in rewards. There were however no differences between family-reared and supplementary fed marmosets in time to learn a visual discrimination task, or in responses to temperament tests. Therefore, while it was hypothesised that early family separation would have adverse developmental consequences, there were actually very little differences between marmosets of different litter sizes and rearing backgrounds, across the range of measures. Results suggest that the current supplementary feeding programme, along with a regular human socialisation programme, minimises any potential negative effects. However, we should always be finding ways to improve the lives of animals in our care. Possible Refinements include reducing dam weight to increase twin births and improve infant survival, and training to allow supplementary feeding on the carrier’s back, to prevent infant separation and reduce disruption to the family. These Refinements could reduce fear and allow monkeys to become more resilient to the laboratory environment.

Apesar de existir diversos programas voltados a crianças que visam promover a educação em guarda responsável de cães e gatos no mundo inteiro, existem poucos estudos avaliando o impacto destas ações no conhecimento de crianças sobre o assunto e a sua influência no bem-estar desses animais. Como é sabido, a educação em guarda responsável tem um papel importante no controle populacional de cães e gatos, na prevenção do abandono, na promoção do bem-estar animal e saúde humana, sendo assim uma questão de saúde única. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a influência do ensino da educação em guarda responsável para crianças e as possíveis interferências deste conhecimento no bem-estar animal. O estudo foi direcionado a crianças de 6 a 10 anos de idade, realizado em uma escola públicado Capão Redondo, distrito localizado na cidade e no estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Foram aplicados questionários a fim de avaliar o conhecimento dos alunos sobre a guarda responsável antes e após seis meses das ações educativas. Os resultados concluíram que crianças que participam de intervenções educativas, apresentam maior conhecimento sobre o tema, portanto o ensino da educação em guarda responsável a crianças é fundamental para torná-los adultos conscientes que podem causar impactos positivos no bem-estar de cães e gatos. / Although there are several programs directed to children to promote responsible pet ownership worldwide ,there are few studies evaluating the impact of the sections on children\'s knowledge about the subject and their influence on the animal welfare. As it is well known, responsible pet ownership driven education plays an important role in the pet population control , in preventing abandonment, in promoting animal welfar e and in human health, thus being a one health issue. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of education on responsible pet ownership for children and the possible interferences of this knowledge on animal welfare. The study was direct ed to children from 6 to 10 years of age, conducted at a public school in capão redon do, located in the city and state of são paulo, brazil. Questionnaires were applied in o rder to evaluate students\' knowledge about responsible pet ownership before and aft er six months of educational actions. The results showed that children, who participat e in educational interventions were able to acquire greater knowledge about the subj ect; so we conclude that teaching and overall education in responsible pet ownership for children is fundamental to make them conscient adults,who can have a positive Impaction animal welfare.

A constante influência humana em atividades de manejo animal, além de aumentar os custos de produção, torna-se uma adicional fonte geradora de estresse sobre os animais. Nesse sentido, é necessária a busca pelo desenvolvimento de métodos alternativos de acompanhamento, à distância e em tempo real, das condições físicas dos animais, em conjunto com o controle das instalações. Para a identificação da condição de conforto ou estresse calórico dos animais, alguns indicativos podem vir a auxiliar, tais como a temperatura retal (TR), sendo esse um bom indicador da temperatura do núcleo corporal, bem como, a frequência respiratória (FR). Porém, com a crescente preocupação em relação ao bem-estar animal, vários questionamentos são feitos acerca de métodos invasivos, motivando a busca por alternativas à mensuração da TR. Surge então, como variável alternativa, a temperatura da superfície corporal, buscando-se correlacioná-la com a TR e FR. Sendo assim, com essa pesquisa objetivou-se identificar a região mais adequada da superfície corporal dos suínos, em fase de creche, que apresente a melhor correlação com a TR e FR. Para tal, foi conduzido um experimento, dividido em duas etapas: etapa 1) pré-experimento, sendo conduzido com dois animais em câmara climática, variando-se as condições de temperatura e testando-se métodos de fixação de sensores e coleta de dados inicialmente propostos; e etapa 2) experimento principal. Este último foi conduzido em uma câmara climática, com cinco leitões da raça Landrace x Large White, com 30 dias de idade, provenientes de uma mesma ninhada e do mesmo sexo (fêmea). Variaram-se as condições de temperatura no interior da câmara climática de 14°C a 35,5°C, de modo a atingir situações de estresse tanto por frio quanto por calor, sendo calculada a entalpia para os propósitos do presente estudo. O delineamento estatístico utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com um único fator, a entalpia ambiente, com sete níveis (31,26; 39,56; 51,12; 59,24; 74,82; 82,96; 94,26 kJ.kg de ar seco-1). Foram realizadas medidas repetidas em intervalos de 30 minutos, em seis diferentes regiões corporais: cabeça (A), paleta (B), lombo (C), pernil (D), orelha (E) e timpânica (F). Para as regiões de A a E foram utilizados dois métodos de medida diferentes: datalogger de temperatura Thermochron iButton® - DS1921G e outro via termômetro de infravermelho Fluke® 566. Para a região F, utilizou-se um termômetro de infravermelho de testa e ouvido G-Tech - T1000. Todos com cinco repetições das medidas para cada variável, em cada situação ambiente. Com os resultados obtidos foi possível propor equações de regressão múltipla para a TR e FR, sendo esta última apontada pela análise de componentes principais como a melhor candidata a correlações com as temperaturas da superfície corporal e por ser um bom indicador da situação de estresse térmico. Por meio desses resultados foi possível observar que a região timpânica mostrou-se como a melhor opção para acompanhamento tanto da TR quanto da FR via termômetro de infravermelho (TiF), enquanto que ao utilizar sensores de temperatura da superfície corporal, a melhor opção foi a orelha (TbE) para predição de TR, e a região do lombo (TbC) para predição de FR. / Human constant influence in handling activities, besides raising production costs, becomes another stress source for the animals. In this sense, it becomes necessary the development of alternative methods, that can remotely monitor, in real time, animal\'s physical conditions, together with remote facilities control. In terms of identifying comfort or stressful thermal situations for animals, some indicators can be handy, such as rectal temperature (RT), which is a good indicator of the core body temperature, as well as, the respiratory rate (RR). Although, with the raising concerns about animal welfare, several questions are raised against invasive methods, encouraging the search for alternatives to RT measuring. The determination of body surface temperature values, trying to correlate them to RT and RR, emerges as an alternative. Thus, it\'s aimed, with this research, to identify the most adequate swine body surface region, in nursery phase, which presents better correlation with RT and RR. For that, an experiment was conducted, divided in two stages: stage 1) pre-experiment, being conducted with two animals in a climate chamber, varying temperature conditions and testing sensor fixation and data collection methods previously proposed; and stage 2) main experiment. The last one was conducted in a climate chamber, with five Landrace x Large White piglets, 30 days aged, from the same litter and of the same sex (female). Temperature conditions inside the chamber were varied from 14°C to 35.5°C, attaining stressful situations both for cold and heat, being calculated the enthalpy for this study purposes. The statistical design used was the completely randomized, with one factor only, the ambient enthalpy, in seven levels (31.26; 39.56; 51.12; 59.24; 74.82; 82.96; 94.26 kJ.kg of dry air-1). Repeated measures were taken in 30 minutes intervals, in six different body regions: head (A), shoulder (B), loin (C), ham (D), ear (E) and tympanic (F). For regions from A to E, two different methods were used: temperature datalogger Thermochron iButton® - DS1921G and infrared thermometer Fluke® 566. For region F, a forehead and ear infrared thermometer G-Tech - T1000 was used. All of them had five replicates of measures for each variable, in each environment situation. With the obtained data, it was possible to propound multiple regression equations for RT and RR, the last one being shown by principal components analysis as a better candidate to correlate to body surface temperatures and because it\'s a good indicator of the animal\'s thermal stress situation. By means of these results it was possible to observe that the tympanic region arises as the better option for monitoring RT and RR through infrared thermometer (TiF), while when using body surface temperature sensors, the best option was the ear (TbE) for predicting RT, and the loin region (TbC) for predicting RR.

Atualmente, percebe-se o crescimento de consumidores preocupados com a qualidade dos produtos alimentares quando optam por ingerir carnes provenientes de animais criados em produções que valorizam o bem-estar animal e possuem um pensamento sustentável. Os animais são entidades psicológicas e instiga os pesquisadores a modificar, alterar e criar novas situações que proporcionem aos mesmos viverem, reproduzirem e crescerem de maneira agradável e de forma ética. O enriquecimento ambiental é considerado um tipo de manejo quando se busca melhorar a qualidade de vida dos animais por meio de estímulos ambientais. A música como um estímulo sensorial pode ser uma forma de enriquecer o ambiente. Ainda, a musicoterapia relaciona-se com a arte, a ciência e a educação e pode ser utilizada em diferentes metodologias e objetivos. Diante disto, a presente pesquisa propôs validar uma metodologia inédita e verificar se o agente sensorial música influenciou no comportamento, no bem-estar e no desempenho produtivo de suínos em fase de crescimento. Concluiu-se que a metodologia proposta em utilizar a música em instalações abertas foi eficaz para o desenvolvimento da pesquisa e que esse agente sensorial interviu positivamente nos comportamentos e proporcionou melhoria no bem-estar dos animais. / Nowadays, it is perceived the growth of consumers concerned about the quality of food products when choose to ingest meat from animals that were created in productions that value animal welfare and have a sustainable thinking. Animals are psychological entities and instigates researchers to modify, alter and create new situations that allow them to live, reproduce and grow in a pleasant and ethical way. Environmental enrichment can be considered a type of handling when improves quality life of the animals by environmental stimuli. Music as a sensory stimulus can be a way to enrich the environment. Also, music therapy is related to art, science and education and can be used in different methodologies and objectives. In this view, the present research proposed to validate an unpublished methodology and to verify if the sensory agent music influenced the behavior, wellfare and productive performance of growing pigs. It was concluded that the methodology proposed to use music in open facilities was effective for the development of the research and that this sensory agent intervened positively in the behaviors and provided improvement in the animal welfare.

Leitões desmamados em sistema comercial passam por um intenso estresse devido a separação materna, alteração brusca na alimentação e reagrupamento de leitegadas, exacerbado pelas intensas interações agonísticas. Nós investigamos se a presença de um suíno mais velho na baia da creche, logo após o desmame, seria capaz de diminuir as interações agonísticas e a concentração de cortisol, tornando os leitões mais adaptados para lidar com o desafio imposto. Noventa e seis leitões de 21 dias de vida foram desmamados e divididos em 8 baias, das quais, 4 tinham um suíno mais velho. Foram feitas coletas de saliva em 48 animais (24 de cada tratamento), filmagem de comportamentos para posterior análise de interações agonísticas (48 animais, sendo 24 de cada tratamento), contagem total de lesão (96 animais) e um desafio de LPS e coleta de sangue para testar a hipótese. A presença do suíno mais velho diminuiu interações agressivas (p = 0,0419), porcentagem de tempo total gasto em interações agonísticas (p = 0,0289) e quantidade de lesões ( p = 0,0001). Não houve diferença na concentração de cortisol na saliva nem no soro sanguíneo, em resposta ao desafio de LPS entre os tratamentos. O suíno mais velho diminuiu a quantidade de interações agoníticas e a somatória de lesões, podendo ter melhorado a adaptação dos leitões ao momento de desmame / Piglets weaned under commercial systems experience an intense stress due to maternal separation, abrupt changes in the diet and mixing of litters, exacerbated by intensive agonistic interactions. We investigated whether the presence of an older swine in the nursery pen, after weaning, would be able to reduce agonistic interactions and the concentration of cortisol, making the piglets most adapted to deal with the challenge. Ninety-six 21 days old piglets were weaned and housed into 8 pens, of which 4 had an older swine. Saliva samples were taken from 48 animals (24 per treatment), vídeo for analysis of agonistic interactions (48 animals, 24 of each treatment), total count of lesion (96 animals) and a challenge of LPS and collection of blood was carried to test the hypothesis. The presence of the older swine decreased aggressive interactions (p = 0.0419), percentage of total time spent in fights (p = 0.0289) and number of lesions (p = 0.0001). There was no difference in the concentration of cortisol in saliva or in serum in response to LPS challenge. The older swine decreased the amount of agonistics interactions and the amount of lesions, thus it may have improved adaptation of piglet at weaning