Environmental and Management Factors Affecting the Time Budgets of Free-Ranging Iberian Pigs Reared in Spain

Abstract

Understanding the natural behaviour of pigs in free-range conditions facilitates interpretation of their behaviour in intensive conditions. Studying six different farms over two years at different seasons, with climatic and management variations, allowed for a general description of Iberian pig behaviour and which factors have an influence on it. The main activity found was resting (56.5% of the time observed), followed by exploratory behaviour. However, this exploratory behaviour was higher when animals were fed only with natural resources than when fed with concentrates (50% versus 17.8%, respectively). In addition, pigs used bathing areas in summer that were not visited in winter. Negative social behaviour was seen more frequently than positive social behaviour, accounting, in total, for 1% of the total activity of animals. Pigs situated at the centre of the groups tended to remain more relaxed, while the peripheral animals remained more alert and vigilant. Our results indicate that foraging behaviour accounts for a significant proportion of pigs’ active time, but this proportion is much more reduced when pigs are fed concentrates. Therefore, behavioural needs in pigs reared in intensive conditions should consider that exploratory behaviour is reduced when pigs are fed with concentrates.

African swine fever and outdoor farming of pigs

“…The ‘montanera’ finishing phase takes place from early November to late February, for pigs that are at least 10 months old and weighing between 80.5 and 115 kg (Rodríguez‐Estévez et al., 2010, 2011). In the traditional production system for the Iberian pig, both males and females are neutered to prevent boar taint after slaughter and also to avoid wild boar being attracted to the outdoor enclosure by entire females in heat (Martinez‐Macipe et al., 2020).…”

Socializing Models During Lactation Alter Colonic Mucosal Gene Expression and Fecal Microbiota of Growing Piglets

“…Sudden regrouping results in aggression and abnormal behavior of piglets (O'Connell et al, 2005 ; Grümpel et al, 2018 ). Intensive rearing improves economic efficiency, which affects the welfare status of piglets (Martinez-Macipe et al, 2020 ). In the recent years, researchers provided enriched social environments for piglets in lactation to improve their welfare (Salazar et al, 2018 ; Ko et al, 2020 ).…”

Sex Differences in Group Composition and Habitat Use of Iberian Free-Range Pigs

“…The fact of a reduced number of animals per group during the montanera could be explained because of the age of the animal, because more space was available or because they needed to be more focused on feeding strategies in forest areas and less on forming big groups in more open areas as in an anti-predator strategy (40). In fact, Martínez-Macipe et al (34) found a clear increase in exploratory/foraging behavior in Iberian pigs during montanera, in comparison to previous seasons where animals were fed, and in the present study, being in the montanera was positively correlated with being closer to trees and negatively with being closer to any other structure (fences, feeding area, drinker, water bath area and fences). Accordingly, Rodríguez-Estévez et al (1) determined that pigs grazing together accounted for four or fewer individuals, but when they were seen eating acorns there were only one or two animals together.…”

“…Accordingly, there is just a minority of the animals being alone, as most of the pigs studied, males and females, formed into groups. Although the risk for predation is low for these Iberian pigs in the areas where they are reared, Martínez-Macipe et al ( 34 ) described in the same farms how animals at the periphery of the groups were more vigilant than were animals in the center, so some anti-predator instinct is maintained in these animals and, accordingly, a high percentage of gregariousness would be expected.…”