Social hierarchy affects the adaption of pregnant sows to a call feeding learning paradigm

Manteuffel, Gerhard; Mannewitz, Anja; Manteuffel, Christian; Tuchscherer, Armin; Schrader, Lars

doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2010.10.002

Cited by 13 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…This difference in weight gain and farrowing rate might be associated with reduced social stress for fi rst-parity sows in gilt-pens compared with sow-pens. Previous studies have demonstrated that social stress can reduce growth rate in pigs (Schouten, 1991) and dominant pigs can gain more BW than subordinate pigs in a group (Wellock et al, 2003;Ison et al, 2010;Manteuffel et al, 2010). In our study, fi rst-parity sows in both gilt-pens and sow-pens were provided the same amount of feed (2.5 kg/d) in individual feeding stalls throughout the gestation period.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Sorting by parity to reduce aggression toward first-parity sows in group-gestation housing systems1

Wang

Johnston

2012

Journal of Animal Science

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Young sows are subordinate and vulnerable in group-housing systems because they usually lose most fights and suffer more injuries than mature sows at mixing. This study was conducted to evaluate effects of sorting by parity on reducing aggression and associated stress with the aim to improve welfare and performance of first-parity sows in a group-housed system. Sows and gilts (n = 180) from 6 breeding groups were used. Within each group, 2 groups of 15 females were mixed in each of 2 treatment pens after weaning and remained there throughout the entire gestation period. The control pen consisted of 11 multiparous and 4 first-parity sows, and the treatment pen consisted of 11 gilts and 4 first-parity sows. Before mixing and at the end of the gestation period, sows and gilts were weighed individually, assessed for BCS, and measured for backfat thickness. Injury scores were assessed before and 48 h after mixing and wean-to-mating intervals, farrowing rate, and litter performance at the subsequent farrowing were recorded for all females. Aggressive interactions involving first-parity sows were video recorded for 72 h immediately after mixing in each pen. Data were analyzed using the Glimmix procedure of SAS with a Poisson regression model for count data and a Gaussian model for continuous data. All females in treatment pens sustained fewer scratches (P = 0.01) after mixing than females in control pens. First-parity sows in treatment pens fought more frequently (P = 0.01), tended to fight for longer periods (P = 0.08), and won more fights (P = 0.04) of parallel pressing but had fewer injures (P = 0.03) after mixing, gained more BW (P = 0.01) during gestation, and had greater farrowing rates (P = 0.03) compared with first-parity sows in control pens. The results suggest that sorting by parity shielded first-parity sows from severe injuries caused by mixing-induced aggression so that their welfare and performance can be improved in group housing systems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Sorting by parity to reduce aggression toward first-parity sows in group-gestation housing systems1

Wang

Johnston

2012

Journal of Animal Science

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“…The CF enables the sows to anticipate the time they get access to the feeding station. As has been shown by Manteuffel et al (2010) sows are able to associate an individual acoustic signal with getting access to a feeding station. Moreover, sows seem to learn that waiting in front of the feeding station is not a successful strategy to get access to feed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…This treatment served as a control and preceded the other 3 treatments. For the second treatment the feeding station was modifi ed to a call feeding station (CF) according to Manteuffel et al (2010). With the CF mode we conducted 3 succeeding different test treatments which differed in the number of feedings per day (1 feeding per day: CF1; 2 feedings per day: CF2) and in the presence of additional straw in the activity area (no straw: CF1-and CF2-; with straw: CF2+).…”

Section: Experimental Treatmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the fi rst learning phase, sows were trained to associate an acoustic signal with the feed reward delivered in the feeding station (classical conditioning). We used trisyllabic "names" as acoustical signals, such as "Griselda," "Trudefru," or "Beate" [for a detailed description of the learning procedure see Manteuffel et al (2010)]. During the classical conditioning phase sows had free access to the feeding station and the individual signal was played back from a loudspeaker every 10 s during the time a sow got feed.…”

Section: Learning Procedures and Callingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ernst et al (2005) have shown in an experimental setup that fattening pigs were able to learn that they had access to feed only after an individual acoustic signal was given. Manteuffel et al (2010) demonstrated that in principle such a call feeding can also be applied successfully in a small group of 8 gestating sows. A call feeding station will enable the sows to predict their access to feed and provides them with a short time anticipation of a positive event.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Individual calling to the feeding station can reduce agonistic interactions and lesions in group housed sows1

Kirchner

Manteuffel

Schrader

2012

Journal of Animal Science

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In this study we used a new call feeding station, which enabled sows to learn that they have access to feed only after an individual acoustic signal was given. We tested whether this call feeding station is able to reduce agonistic interactions between sows and whether effects of call feeding can further be improved by enrichment. A total of 85 gestating sows were kept in a dynamic group in a large waiting area (207 m²) equipped with littered laying areas and an outside area. During a control treatment sows were fed in a normal electronic feeding station once a day (NF1-). Before testing the call feeding station sows had been conditioned for an acoustic signal (a trisyllabic "name") and learned that they were allowed to enter the feeding station only after their name was called. In the call feeding station sows were fed either once (CF1-) or twice a day (CF2-). In addition, we tested for effects of further enrichment such as straw in the activity area (CF2+). Agonistic behaviors and number of sows were observed by video in continuous recording from 0600 to 1800 h in an area (4 by 3.25 m) in front of the feeding station in periods of 4 d (NF1- = 7 periods, CF1- = 5 periods, CF2- = 3 periods, and CF2+ = 4 periods) and analyzed using mixed models. During each observation period sows were scored for wounds and body lesions at different body parts. From 0600 to 1100 h the proportion of agonistic interactions was much greater in the feeding mode NF1- compared with CF1- (feeding mode × time of day: P < 0.001) and in CF1- agonistic interactions were on a low level throughout the whole feeding cycle. The feeding frequency and the additional presence of straw in the activity area did not affect the proportion of agonistic interactions (all P > 0.05). The results on the number of sows in front of the feeding station mirrored the findings for agonistic interactions. In NF1- more sows were involved in agonistic interactions compared with CF1- (83.1 ± 12.9% vs. 61.5 ± 19.6%; P = 0.005) but there was no difference between the call feeding station (CF) treatments. The number of severe lesions was greater at the head (P = 0.014) and the flank (P = 0.006) but not at the shoulders (P = 0.057) and the hindquarter (P = 0.426) in NF1- compared with CF1-. The results suggest that signaling the feeding time individually increases the predictability for access to the feeding station and consequently reduces competition between sows.

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The Use of Feeding Behaviour in the Assessment of Animal Welfare

2016

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HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés.

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Social hierarchy affects the adaption of pregnant sows to a call feeding learning paradigm

Cited by 13 publications

References 20 publications

Sorting by parity to reduce aggression toward first-parity sows in group-gestation housing systems1

Sorting by parity to reduce aggression toward first-parity sows in group-gestation housing systems1

Individual calling to the feeding station can reduce agonistic interactions and lesions in group housed sows1

The Use of Feeding Behaviour in the Assessment of Animal Welfare

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