The development of feeding and investigatory behaviour in free-ranging domestic pigs during their first 18 weeks of life (1994)

Petersen, V.

Abstract

The development of feeding and investigatory behaviour was investigated in a 2-year study in groups of domestic pigs living under free-range conditions. No nibbling and sucking littermates or bellynosing was observed at any time. It can be concluded that nibbling and chewing other piglets occurs only very rarely in domestic piglets, which live under natural conditions in a varied environment and with ample space and therefore the high frequency of nibbling, chewing and sucking littermates, which is seen in intensive housing systems, may be caused by the environment.