Pig

Sow and piglet behaviour in group lactation housing from 7 or 14 days post-partum

Under natural conditions, sows and piglets abandon the nest between 7 and 14 days postpartum and re-join the group. If given the choice, commercially housed sows begin to nurse piglets communally around this time. The best age at which to...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Verdon, M., Morrison, R. S., Rault, J.-L. 2019. Sow and piglet behaviour in group lactation housing from 7 or 14 days post-partum. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 214, 25-33.

Does the location of enrichment material affect behavior and dirtiness in growing female pigs?

The objective of this study was to investigate if female growing pigs spend similar amounts of time exploring a wooden stick as they do exploring enrichment material regardless of its proximity to the feeder. Forty-eight pigs aged 18 to 26...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Dalmau, A., Areal, B., Machado, S. et al. 2019. Does the location of enrichment material affect behavior and dirtiness in growing female pigs? Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 22(2), 116-126.

The effect of group-housing with free-farrowing pens on reproductive traits and the behaviour of low-risk and high-risk crushing sows

Free-farrowing systems and group-housing systems for lactating sows are sensitive systems and require an optimal interaction of different environmental factors to be successful. The aim of the present study was to compare sows' reproductive traits during lactation in two group-housing...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Rearing & Weaning, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Grimberg-Henrici, C. G. E., Büttner, K., Lohmeier, R. Y. et al. 2019. The effect of group-housing with free-farrowing pens on reproductive traits and the behaviour of low-risk and high-risk crushing sows. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 211, 33-40.

Suckling behaviour and health parameters of sows and piglets in free-farrowing pens

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of free-farrowing pens and farrowing crates on the health parameters and the suckling behaviour of sows and their piglets, which were housed in farrowing crates (FC; n = 127)...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Housing, Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Lohmeier, R. Y., Gimberg-Henrici, C. G. E., Burfeind, O. et al. 2019. Suckling behaviour and health parameters of sows and piglets in free-farrowing pens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 211, 25-32.

Implication and impact of straw provision on behaviour, lesions and pen hygiene on commercial farms rearing undocked pigs

According to the European Union Council Directive 2008/120EC, measures to minimise the risk for tail biting shall be taken before practicing tail docking, e.g. provision of manipulable material. Still, >90% of the pigs within EU are tail docked. Thus, management...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Wallgren, T., Larsen, A., Lundeheim, N. et al. 2019. Implication and impact of straw provision on behaviour, lesions and pen hygiene on commercial farms rearing undocked pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 210, 26-37.

Domestic piglets (Sus scrofa domestica) are attentive to human voice and able to discriminate some prosodic features

Vocal communication is of major social importance in pigs. Their auditory sensitivity goes beyond the intraspecific level; studies have shown that domestic pigs are sensitive to and can learn to recognise human voices. The question of which prosodic features (intonation,...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Bensoussan, S., Tigeot, R., Lemasson, A. et al. 2019. Domestic piglets (Sus scrofa domestica) are attentive to human voice and able to discriminate some prosodic features. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 210, 38-45.

Provision point-source materials stimulates play in sows but does not affect aggression at regrouping

When sows are mixed into groups, hierarchies form and resulting aggression and stress can affect production and welfare. This study determined the effect of providing point-source materials on aggressive and play behaviors in gestating sows. Large white cross Landrace sows...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Greenwood, E. C., van Wettere, W. H. E. J., Rayner, J. et al. 2019. Provision point-source materials stimulates play in sows but does not affect aggression at regrouping. Animals 9(1), 8.

Effect of different environment enrichments on behaviour and social interactions in growing pigs

Background: Pigs are active animals that require a suitable environment to be able to express their exploratory behaviour. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of different environmental enrichments on the behaviour, social interactions, salivary cortisol...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Giuliotti, L., Benvenuti, M. N., Giannarelli, A. et al. 2019. Effect of different environment enrichments on behaviour and social interactions in growing pigs. Animals 9(3), 101.

Growing pigs’ interest in enrichment objects with different characteristics and cleanliness

Enrichment objects can be a practical way to provide rooting and chewing material to growing pigs, on which they can express species-specific behaviors. The challenge is to provide enrichment objects that will satisfy pigs' behavioral needs, while being practical and...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Beaudoin, J.-M., Bergeron, R., Devillers, N. et al. 2019. Growing pigs' interest in enrichment objects with different characteristics and cleanliness. Animals 9(3), 85.

The use of garlic oil for olfactory enrichment increases the use of ropes in weaned pigs

Pig producers are required to provide environmental enrichment to provide pigs the opportunity to perform investigative and manipulative behaviours (EU directive 2001/93/EC). Preventing enrichment from losing its novelty and decreasing the rate at which animals become habituated is important to...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Blackie, N., de Sousa, M. 2019. The use of garlic oil for olfactory enrichment increases the use of ropes in weaned pigs. Animals 9(4), 148.