The short-term behavioural response of sows, but not gilts, to a social stimulus is related to sow aggressiveness in groups

Abstract

This study examined relationships between the behavioural response of pregnant gilts (n=200, gestation 1) and sows (n=200, gestation 2) to a live, similarly-aged female pig (unfamiliar pig test, UPT) and to a fibre-glass model pig (model pig test, MPT), and aggressive behaviour on the day after mixing (day 2). Sows with a short latency to make contact with an unfamiliar sow in the UPT were more likely to deliver high levels of aggression at day 2 of gestation 2 (P=0.005), but this relationship was stronger when a model pig was used (P0.05). A strong relationship was not apparent with gilts (P>0.05). Thus, the socially inexperienced pig may not be an ideal model for sow behaviour. This study ..