Neighbour effects and the stress of tethering in sows (1988)

Appleby, M. C., Lawrence, A. B.

Abstract

Repetitive behaviour of newly tethered gilts correlated positively with that of their neighbours. .. The data suggested that behaviour of neighbours was not just being copied, but itself produced stress, and it seems likely that the noise of chain chewing and manipulation was critical in this. This provides further evidence that tether stalls are not suitable as a housing system for sows, with the addition that the tether chains themselves are probably a major cause of behavioural problems.