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

• Published in: Behavioural processes 2017-07, Vol.140, p.216-225
• Main Authors: Verdon, M., Morrison, R.S., Rice, M., Butler, K.L., Hemsworth, P.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggression; Aggression - psychology; Aggressive behavior; Aging - psychology; Animal behavior; Animal cognition; Animals; Correlation analysis; Female; Gestation; Hogs; Latency; Model pig; Models, Psychological; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal - psychology; Recognition (Psychology); Social Environment; Sow; Stall-test; Statistical analysis; Sus scrofa; Swine; Temperament; Temperament - physiology
• ISSN: 0376-6357; 1872-8308
• DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.04.013

•Latency to contact an unfamiliar or model pig was related to aggression in groups.•Response to a model pig is a better predictor of aggression than an unfamiliar sow.•Sow aggressive behaviour may be related to characteristics of conspecifics.•The gilt may not be an ideal model for aggressive behaviour of the sow. 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 indicates that sows with a short latency to contact a model pig are more likely to be aggressive when mixed into groups.