Positive Human-Animal Interactions, Early Life Experiences and Stress Resilience in Pigs

Abstract

Pigs in intensive production systems routinely encounter several challenging situations including abrupt weaning, painful husbandry procedures, intense contact with stockpeople, and exposure to novel social and physical environments. The ability of pigs to cope with these routine stressors has implications for their welfare and productivity and may be affected by their previous experiences with humans. Furthermore, experiences that occur early in life, including interactions with the dam, the physical environment as well as early experiences with humans, may have a profound effect on the development of stress coping mechanisms that impacts how pigs cope with stress throughout their lives. Th..