Evaluation of stress hormone (cortisol) levels andsome biochemical parameters of pigs kept under intensive management systems in Morogoro, Tanzania
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Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of biology and life science
Abstract
The worldwide increase in demand for animal products in recent decades has necessitated
raising of food animals under intensive systems that have been demonstrated to cause stress
to animals. A cross sectional study was carried conducted to evaluate the welfare of pigs kept
under intensive system using serum cortisol levels and some biochemical parameters as
indicators of stress. A total of 302 pigs, aged three months to two years, from urban and
peri-urban areas of Morogoro township were purposively involved in the study which
assessed farm management aspects (housing and feeding) and blood levels of cortisol and
some biochemical parameters (glucose, total protein and cholesterol). Results showed that
serum cortisol levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in pigs from the peri-urban farms
than those dwelling in the urban settings. Weaner pigs and boars had the highest serum
cortisol levels compared to growers, gilts and sows. Significantly high levels of plasma
cholesterol (p < 0.05) were measured in boars followed by gilts and weaners all kept in the
urban areas whereas insignificant differences were observed as far as plasma glucose and
total proteins were concerned. Result on farm management assessment showed that urban
piggery housing was of better quality than in the peri-urban and that feeding was largely
influenced by local availability of the major feed ingredients such as maize bran and
vegetable residues. About 80% of urban pigs were maintained on high concentrate feed due
to availability of swills (restaurant leftovers) and maize bran whereas low concentrate feed
with mainly vegetable residues dominated in the peri-urban settings. It is concluded that,
serum cortisol levels observed in the current study were a reflection of stress to different
groups of pigs kept under the intensive system and that feeds had some direct effect on
biochemical parameters such as plasma cholesterol levels.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Stress factors, Biochemical parameters, Cortisol, Pigs, Urban, Peri-urban