The objectives in this study were to observe the influence of our swine education farm program (SEFP) on perceptions and opinions regarding pigs, pig production, and psychological and physiological measures in agricultural students living in Tokyo urban areas. This SEFP was a part of our agriculture animal exposure course held in the School of Agriculture, Meiji University. The students who participated were surveyed before, during and after the SEFP at our university swine farm. Our farm had approximately 50 pigs. During the 2 days and 1 night that the participants spent at the university accommodations, they weighed pigs, observed pig behaviors and fed pigs. Blood pressures, heart pulses, and surface temperatures of participants' faces and hands measured by ultrared thermograph were recorded before and during the SEFP. Randomly selected participants were also monitored on their brain waves, and salivary cortisol concentrations before and during the SEFP. Their mood and stress states were evaluated by using two kinds of self-assessment questionnaires : the profile of mood states (POMS) and the stress arousal check list (SACL). Most of the participants (>90%) recognized that SEFP would be helpful to understand pig production, and the importance of food education. Participants had lower maximum blood pressures and higher proportions of brain waves (alpha 2) during the SEFP than before the SEFP (P<0.05). Surfaced temeperatures in participants changed before and during the SEFP. In the POMS, positive mood state points increased and negative mood state points in the participants decreased during the SEFP (P<0.05). Concentrations of salivary cortisol in the students were higher during the SEFP than before the SEFP. In the SACL, participants possessed less stress and high arousal feelings during the SEFP than those before the SEFP (P<0.05). These results suggest that our SEFP alters the mood, stress and physiological states in participants, and improve their understanding in pigs and pig production.

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