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Agonistic behaviour of dry sows in single stalls and group housing with special reference to the risk of resulting lesions
193 i n v e s t i g a t i o n was designed t o i d e n t i f y t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s u n d e r various c o n d i t i o n s over a longer time-scale. Piglets were e x c h a n g e d b e t w e e n t w o litters in equal n u m b e r s (1 or 3) at o n e o f t h r e e ages (1, 3 or 7 days); t e a t p r e f e r e n c e ( a n t e r i o r , medial or p o s t e r i o r ) a n d w h e t h e r t h e f o s t e r e d piglet's p r e f e r r e d t e a t was already o c c u p i e d ( " c o m p e t i t i o n / n o - c o m p e t i t i o n " ) were also s y s t e m a t i c a l l y varied. C o n t r o l data were o b t a i n e d f r o m r e s i d e n t piglets in f o s t e r i n g litters a n d f r o m litters in w h i c h n o fostering h a d t a k e n place. Piglets were weighed at intervals to 140 days a n d o b s e r v e d for five 9 0 - m i n periods over t h e week following fostering. G r o w t h was r e t a r d e d over t h e 3--7 days a f t e r fostering and, after initial recovery, for a m u c h m o r e s u s t a i n e d p e r i o d following weaning. R e s i d e n t piglets in fostering litters also p u t o n less w e i g h t t h a n t h o s e in litters w i t h o u t fostering. In t h e period i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r fostering, sows s h o w e d increased sniffing of all piglets a n d aggression d i r e c t e d specifically at f o s t e r e d piglets. F o s t e r e d piglets s p e n t less t i m e lying a n d o f t e n engaged in s u s t a i n e d squealing. T h e y t e n d e d to be slower to a p p r o a c h t h e u d d e r at suckling a n d some m a d e n o a t t e m p t to suck. Suckling periods were o f t e n termin a t e d early b y t h e sow, w h i c h was d i s t u r b e d b y c o m p e t i t i o n at t h e u d d e r or b y f o s t e r e d piglets squealing near its head. A smaller p r o p o r t i o n o f suckling periods a c h i e v e d milk l e t - d o w n and, even w h e n it o c c u r r e d , t h e p r o b a b i l i t y of t h e f o s t e r e d pigs being p r e s e n t was a b n o r m a l l y low. Most o f t h e s e effects declined c o n s i d e r a b l y over t h e 3 h i m m e d i a t e l y after fostering, b u t s o m e were still e v i d e n t 3 days later. A l t h o u g h generally greater in piglets f o s t e r e d w h e n older, all were seen to some degree following f o s t e r i n g at 24 h. This c i r c u m s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e suggests t h a t t w o b r o a d categories o f variable m a y subserve t h e effects o n g r o w t h : (i) t h e fostered piglet's r e l u c t a n c e to engage in suckling limits its o w n milk i n t a k e ; (ii) t h e d i s r u p t i o n o f suckling b y t h e sow reduces t h e t r a n s f e r o f milk b e t w e e n t h e sow a n d all piglets. T o gain f u r t h e r insight i n t o t h e role of piglet b e h a v i o u r , t h e data f r o m f o s t e r e d piglets was divided i n t o a l o w a n d a high weight-gain group, o n t h e basis of g r o w t h over t h e w e e k following fostering. A l t h o u g h t h e high-gain piglets were n o t necessarily m o r e i m m e d i a t e l y willing to m i x in at suckling, t h e y a p p e a r e d to s h o w m o r e rapid b e h a v i o u r a l a d a p t a t i o n in general, b o t h b y b e c o m i n g m o r e q u i c k l y i n t e g r a t e d in t h e suckling process a n d in t h e i r i n i t i a t i o n o f social r e a c t i o n s w i t h r e s i d e n t piglets away f r o m t h e udder. REFERENCES Horrell, R.I. a n d B e n n e t t , J., 1981. D i s r u p t i o n of t e a t p r e f e r e n c e s a n d r e t a r d a t i o n o f g r o w t h following cross-fostering o f 1-week-old pigs. A n i m . Prod., 33: 9 9 - - 1 0 6 . Horrell, R.I., 1982. I m m e d i a t e b e h a v i o u r a l c o n s e q u e n c e s of fostering 1-week-old piglets. J. Agric. Sci., 99: 3 2 9 - - 3 3 6 .
AGONISTIC BEHAVIOUR OF DRY SOWS IN SINGLE STALLS AND GROUP HOUSING WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE RISK OF RESULTING LESIONS Chr. DOLF
Swiss Federal Research Station for Farm Management and Agricultural Engineering, CH-8356 Tanikon b. Aadorf (Switzerland) ABSTRACT Five groups o f f o u r Large W h i t e sows, each k e p t in single stalls a n d in g r o u p housing, were observed. T h e d i m e n s i o n s o f t h e single stalls were 65 x 190 cm. T h e g r o u p h o u s i n g was o r g a n i z e d for f o u r sows a n d divided i n t o t h r e e areas: feeding area; d u n g i n g area; rest-
194 ing area. In the latter, long straw was provided. The individual feeding stalls had no locking s y s t e m . The size o f the group housing was 350 × 400 cm. The ethological o b s e r v a t i o n s were carried o u t o n the day o f w e a n i n g and on Days 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 40 and 41 following weaning. Observations were c o n d u c t e d f r o m 05.30 to 09.00 h and f r o m 15.00 to 19.30 h. The following behaviour e l e m e n t s were s t u d i e d : parallel pressing; jostling/levering; biting; i n t e r r u p t i o n in fighting; head k n o c k ; f o r w a r d s and b a c k w a r d s moving. Fights o c c u r r e d in the single stalls as well as in the g r o u p housing. S o m e o f t h e m were r a t h e r severe. A f t e r 2--3 days, the rank order in t h e group housing was s e t t l e d and the f r e q u e n c y o f fights was k e p t to a m i n i m u m by threats. In t h e single stalls, n o established rank o r d e r could be o b s e r v e d , b u t the fighting also declined with time. F i g h t i n g in single stalls was d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h a t in group housing; s o m e e l e m e n t s were missing c o m p l e t e l y (parallel pressing and jostling/levering) and a new one was observed ( f o r w a r d s and backw a r d s moving). The average d u r a t i o n o f the fights in the single stalls was longer, presumably because t h e iron bars b e t w e e n the animals p r e v e n t e d fights f r o m being b r o u g h t to a p r o p e r c o n c l u s i o n , and fighting declined w i t h time less rapidly t h a n in the g r o u p - h o u s i n g system. The n u m b e r o f fights initiated in single stalls did n o t decline over t h e first 3 days, unlike in g r o u p housing, w h e r e t h e y d i m i n i s h e d rapidly. This was p r o b a b l y due to the fact t h a t sows being a t t a c k e d by a d o m i n a n t animal s o m e t i m e s d e f e n d e d themselves, especially if the s u b o r d i n a t e animal was n o t in a p o s i t i o n to flee because o f lack o f space. During the r a n k - o r d e r fights, the sows caused one a n o t h e r injuries, regardless o f w h e t h e r t h e y were k e p t in single stalls or in group housing. N o r m a l l y the injuries were only superficial for b o t h s y s t e m s and t h e y healed rapidly.
LESIONS ON THE INTEGUMENT -- A MIRROR OF BEHAVIOUR AND ENVIRONMENT
P. GLOOR
Swiss Federal Research Station for Farm Management and Agricultural Engineering, CH-8356 Tanikon b. Aadorf (Switzerland) ABSTRACT The s t u d y had t w o main goals: (1) t o test housing s y s t e m s for dry sows w i t h regard to their well-being; (2) t o find a m e t h o d w h i c h w o u l d allow us to collect a large q u a n t i t y o f data f r o m animals w i t h w h i c h to evaluate t h e a p p r o p r i a t e n e s s o f a housing s y s t e m and o f t h e welt-being o f t h e animals. The m e t h o d had also to be c o n s i s t e n t w i t h ethological findings. T h e i n s p e c t i o n m e t h o d was a m o d i f i c a t i o n o f t h e clinical i n s p e c t i o n initiated b y Ekesbo, w h o t o o k t h e c o n d i t i o n o f t h e i n t e g u m e n t , or skin, as an i n d i c a t o r o f the well-being o f t h e animals. I n s p e c t i o n is carried o u t b y t w o persons, o n e inspecting t h e sow and the o t h e r r e c o r d i n g data. Various parts o f the b o d y are classified according to d i f f e r e n t criteria. T h r e e classes o f criteria are used t o evaluate the significance o f t h e results o f inspections. Firstly, the possible cause o f the lesion or a b n o r m a l i t y is e x a m i n e d t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r it is due directly t o t h e n a t u r e o f the housing, to a b n o r m a l behaviours resulting f r o m t h e c o n d i t i o n s , to n o r m a l behaviours practised in r e s t r i c t e d e n v i r o n m e n t s , or to behaviours - - such as fighting o r sexual b e h a v i o u r - - w h i c h result in lesions even in natural c o n d i t i o n s . S u c h an analysis gives insight i n t o t h e w a y c o n d i t i o n s m i g h t be m o d i f i e d so as t o p r e v e n t t h e lesions.
AGONISTIC BEHAVIOUR OF DRY SOWS IN SINGLE STALLS AND GROUP HOUSING WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE RISK OF RESULTING LESIONS Chr. DOLF
Swiss Federal Research Station for Farm Management and Agricultural Engineering, CH-8356 Tanikon b. Aadorf (Switzerland) ABSTRACT Five groups o f f o u r Large W h i t e sows, each k e p t in single stalls a n d in g r o u p housing, were observed. T h e d i m e n s i o n s o f t h e single stalls were 65 x 190 cm. T h e g r o u p h o u s i n g was o r g a n i z e d for f o u r sows a n d divided i n t o t h r e e areas: feeding area; d u n g i n g area; rest-
194 ing area. In the latter, long straw was provided. The individual feeding stalls had no locking s y s t e m . The size o f the group housing was 350 × 400 cm. The ethological o b s e r v a t i o n s were carried o u t o n the day o f w e a n i n g and on Days 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 40 and 41 following weaning. Observations were c o n d u c t e d f r o m 05.30 to 09.00 h and f r o m 15.00 to 19.30 h. The following behaviour e l e m e n t s were s t u d i e d : parallel pressing; jostling/levering; biting; i n t e r r u p t i o n in fighting; head k n o c k ; f o r w a r d s and b a c k w a r d s moving. Fights o c c u r r e d in the single stalls as well as in the g r o u p housing. S o m e o f t h e m were r a t h e r severe. A f t e r 2--3 days, the rank order in t h e group housing was s e t t l e d and the f r e q u e n c y o f fights was k e p t to a m i n i m u m by threats. In t h e single stalls, n o established rank o r d e r could be o b s e r v e d , b u t the fighting also declined with time. F i g h t i n g in single stalls was d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h a t in group housing; s o m e e l e m e n t s were missing c o m p l e t e l y (parallel pressing and jostling/levering) and a new one was observed ( f o r w a r d s and backw a r d s moving). The average d u r a t i o n o f the fights in the single stalls was longer, presumably because t h e iron bars b e t w e e n the animals p r e v e n t e d fights f r o m being b r o u g h t to a p r o p e r c o n c l u s i o n , and fighting declined w i t h time less rapidly t h a n in the g r o u p - h o u s i n g system. The n u m b e r o f fights initiated in single stalls did n o t decline over t h e first 3 days, unlike in g r o u p housing, w h e r e t h e y d i m i n i s h e d rapidly. This was p r o b a b l y due to the fact t h a t sows being a t t a c k e d by a d o m i n a n t animal s o m e t i m e s d e f e n d e d themselves, especially if the s u b o r d i n a t e animal was n o t in a p o s i t i o n to flee because o f lack o f space. During the r a n k - o r d e r fights, the sows caused one a n o t h e r injuries, regardless o f w h e t h e r t h e y were k e p t in single stalls or in group housing. N o r m a l l y the injuries were only superficial for b o t h s y s t e m s and t h e y healed rapidly.
LESIONS ON THE INTEGUMENT -- A MIRROR OF BEHAVIOUR AND ENVIRONMENT
P. GLOOR
Swiss Federal Research Station for Farm Management and Agricultural Engineering, CH-8356 Tanikon b. Aadorf (Switzerland) ABSTRACT The s t u d y had t w o main goals: (1) t o test housing s y s t e m s for dry sows w i t h regard to their well-being; (2) t o find a m e t h o d w h i c h w o u l d allow us to collect a large q u a n t i t y o f data f r o m animals w i t h w h i c h to evaluate t h e a p p r o p r i a t e n e s s o f a housing s y s t e m and o f t h e welt-being o f t h e animals. The m e t h o d had also to be c o n s i s t e n t w i t h ethological findings. T h e i n s p e c t i o n m e t h o d was a m o d i f i c a t i o n o f t h e clinical i n s p e c t i o n initiated b y Ekesbo, w h o t o o k t h e c o n d i t i o n o f t h e i n t e g u m e n t , or skin, as an i n d i c a t o r o f the well-being o f t h e animals. I n s p e c t i o n is carried o u t b y t w o persons, o n e inspecting t h e sow and the o t h e r r e c o r d i n g data. Various parts o f the b o d y are classified according to d i f f e r e n t criteria. T h r e e classes o f criteria are used t o evaluate the significance o f t h e results o f inspections. Firstly, the possible cause o f the lesion or a b n o r m a l i t y is e x a m i n e d t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r it is due directly t o t h e n a t u r e o f the housing, to a b n o r m a l behaviours resulting f r o m t h e c o n d i t i o n s , to n o r m a l behaviours practised in r e s t r i c t e d e n v i r o n m e n t s , or to behaviours - - such as fighting o r sexual b e h a v i o u r - - w h i c h result in lesions even in natural c o n d i t i o n s . S u c h an analysis gives insight i n t o t h e w a y c o n d i t i o n s m i g h t be m o d i f i e d so as t o p r e v e n t t h e lesions.