Welfare of entire males and females in organic pig production when reared in single-sex groups

• Published in: Livestock science 2012-11, Vol.149 (1-2), p.118-127
• Main Authors: Thomsen, Rikke, Bonde, Marianne, Kongsted, Anne Grete, Rousing, Tine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggression; Entire male pigs; Organic pig production; Welfare
• ISSN: 1871-1413; 1878-0490
• DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2012.07.003

In the 25 EU countries more than 100 million male piglets are castrated each year. Castration is particularly problematic in organic pig production because it conflicts with the high welfare and other ethical standards associated with this system of animal production. The objective was to investigate possible welfare implications of producing organic entire male pigs. A total of 281 entire male pigs and 250 female pigs, raised in accordance with Danish organic standards in two commercial herds, were distributed into 15 male groups and 15 female groups. The pigs were observed at 40, 70 and 90kg. Behaviour observations was made in two different periods, ‘roughage provision’ with observation of aggressive interactions lasting 30min, and ‘post-roughage provision’ with observations of aggressive interactions, number of mountings and number of active animals in intervals of 15min, lasting 90min in total. Number of skin lesions and prevalence of lameness and general debility were assessed for each animal. The mean aggression levels were 4.3 interactions per animal per hour during ‘roughage provision’ and 1.9 during ‘post-roughage provision’, with no difference between genders in either period. Also no difference in severity of the aggressive behaviour between males and females was observed. Aggression decreased significantly with increasing pig weight during ‘post-roughage provision’ (P