Effects of social environment on welfare status and sexual behaviour of female pigs: Effects of space allowance (1986)

Hemsworth, P. H., Barnett, J. L., Hansen, C. et al.

Abstract

This study examined the effects of housing groups of adult female pigs (6 pigs per group) with a space allowance of 1, 2 or 3 sq.m per pig. .. There was a significant increase in plasma free-corticosteroid concentrations when gilts were housed with a space allowance of 1 sq.m per gilt. The elevated free corticosteroid levels of gilt in the 1 sq.m per gilt treatment suggests that a chronic stress response due to crowding may have been responsible for the apparent impairment in the sexual behaviour of these animals.