A study of the development of the teat order in piglets

Abstract

The sucking and fighting behaviour of three litters of piglets was observed from birth to 4 h of age. Although each piglet sucked from an average of seven teats during this early period, each piglet spent an average of 55% of its sucking time at a single teat. The development of the teat order was studied further by observing the sucking behaviour of 22 litters from 1 to 21 days of age. The development of a stable teat order was progressive and by the end of the second week of lactation the teat orders of the majority of the litters had reached their most stable levels. However, in large litters and litters with low growth rates teat orders were unstable. © 1976.