A thoracic squeeze has been observed to cause both healthy and low vigour neonatal foals to enter a ‘less-responsive state’, characterised by loss of posture, eye closure and cessation of movement, from which they rapidly recover to express normal healthy behaviours when the squeeze is released. To date, there have been no systematic studies characterising the responses of healthy neonates of other mammalian species to a thoracic squeeze. We describe the responses of healthy newborn piglets (n = 17) to a standardised application of the thoracic squeeze and evaluate the effect of the method of squeeze application on the response. Neonatal piglets were squeezed around the chest with either a soft fabric rope as has been used in foals (n = 8) or a novel purpose-made inflation cuff (n = 9). Both methods were effective at inducing a less-responsive behavioural state in all piglets, with neural reflexes reduced or absent in over half of them. The inflation cuff appeared to induce the less-responsive state faster than the rope, and more piglets squeezed with the cuff remained in this state for the full 10-min squeeze. These findings suggest that the behavioural response of foals to thoracic squeezing can be generalised to neonates of other precocial mammalian species. This initial study provides a foundation for further research using the inflation cuff to explore mechanisms underlying the thoracic squeeze and ways in which it may be applied whilst performing husbandry procedures.

A thoracic squeeze has been observed to cause low-vigour neonates of various farmed mammal species, including calves, to enter a state of reduced responsiveness. The removal of the squeeze causes rapid recovery and the expression of normal, healthy behaviours. However, the responses of healthy calves to a thoracic squeeze have not yet been characterized. The responses of 16 healthy newborn calves to a thoracic squeeze are described, along with the effect of the squeeze’s application method on the response. Calves aged between 12 and 36 h were subjected to the squeeze using a rope (n = 8) or an inflation cuff (n = 8). In total, 13 of the 16 calves were induced into a state of reduced responsiveness, though neural reflexes persisted in nearly all of them. The squeeze was discontinued for nearly half of those induced before the end of the 10-minute period, either due to spontaneous arousal or physiological instability. Both methods of application were equally effective at inducing reduced responsiveness, though responses to the cuff appeared to be more rapid than those to the rope. These findings support previous research on piglets and foals, and suggest that the behavioural responses to a thoracic squeeze are generalised across neonates of precocial farmed mammals; the findings provide a foundation for further research exploring the mechanisms underlying the response and the benefits that its application may bring for the performance of husbandry procedures.