Evaluation of stress hormone (cortisol) levels and some biochemical parameters of pigs kept under intensive management systems in Morogoro, Tanzania
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Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
TANZANIA VETERINARY ASSOCIATION
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 other groups. 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 no significant 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
Proceeding of the 35 Scientific Cinference of the Tanzania Veterinary Association, Volume 35: 177-182
Keywords
Stress factors, Biochemical parameters, Cortisol, Pigs, Urban, Peri-urban