Neuroplasticidade, bem-estar e desempenho de suínos expostos a musicoterapia durante a fase de gestação e maternidade

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sow exposure, before and after birth, to auditory environmental enrichment on behavior, eye temperature and reproductive performance, as well as to evaluate the performance and neuroplasticity of the offspring of these females. Forty-eight with similar body conditions scores, sows at 90 days of gestation were used and distributed evenly according to birth order in two treatments (Control and Daily Exposure to 6 hours of classical music). At 110 days of gestation, the females were housed in farrowing rooms and separated into 4 treatments: Control - Control (CC): did not hear music during pregnancy and lactation; Control - Music (CM): did not listen to music during pregnancy, but listened during lactation; Control Music (MC): listened to music during pregnancy and did not listen during lactation; Music - Music (MM): listened to music during pregnancy and lactation. For the study we used a completely randomized design. The behaviors of 12 sows per treatment during pregnancy were recorded, counting 24 females; At lactation, they were divided into 4 treatments, summing 6 sows / treatment for behavioral evaluation. Data were collected considering productive performance (number of born alive and weaned, birth and weaning weight). Blood serum was measured for neurotrophic factor derived from piglet brain, as well as serum lactate at birth and sow eye temperature was measured throughout the experiment. Females who were exposed to music therapy during pregnancy showed better behavioral results during gestation and lactation. Musical enrichment was positive for sows exposed only during lactation, reducing stereotyped behaviors such as vacuum chewing. Sows that did not hear music in any of the experimental phases showed greater behavioral problems, possibly related to higher levels of stress and anxiety. The reduction in eye temperature at certain moments in the gestation phase, indicates that the music caused a reduction in the chronic stress of pregnant females. Positive effects of music therapy on the zootechnical indexes of piglets were presented, especially when music was used in the pre- and postpartum phase. Although there are no differences in the concentration of BDNF at birth, the maintenance of the neurotrophic factor in the MM group, may indicate that music acts as an inhibitor of the natural reduction that occurs in the concentration of BDNF with aging. Exposure to music therapy in the pre- and postpartum period can improve the well-being of pigs, the zootechnical indexes of the offspring, as well as the neuroplasticity of piglets. Music is a simple and viable way to improve the welfare and zootechnical performance of pigs.