Toward a better understanding of pig behavior and pig welfare

Kittawornrat, Apisit; Zimmerman, Jeffrey J.

doi:10.1017/s1466252310000174

Cited by 88 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 72 publications

(88 reference statements)

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“…The most prominent species-specific behaviour of pigs is foraging-related rooting (Graves 1984). In natural environments pigs spend major parts of the day engaged in feeding and related behaviours (Kittawornrat & Zimmerman 2011). Although this is common knowledge, modern housing systems do almost entirely ignore this requirement on the pigs´ environment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of a high-fibre diet on the feeding behaviour of fattening pigs

Kallabis

Kaufmann

2012

Arch. Anim. Breed.

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The natural behavioural repertoire of the pig includes extensive foraging behaviour and long feeding times. Customary feed for growing pigs does not meet these requirements, resulting in unsatisfied feeding motivation. This may lead to behavioural disorders and reduces animal welfare. Studies on sows showed that by enhancing crude fibre content in the feed, satiety can be improved and the feeding motivation reduced. In growing pigs, however, studies are lacking, although abnormal behaviours are widespread. Therefore, we investigated the feeding behaviour of 56 castrated male pigs, who received either a standard compound feed or a high fibre feed containing lignocellulosis. High fibre pigs feed less often but longer times than control pigs. The feeding rate of high fibre pigs is clearly reduced, resulting in lower feed intake. Due to the composition of the fibrous feed, energy intake is less and crude fibre intake higher in high fibre pigs. Those animals have lower daily weight gain than control pigs, the feed conversion, however, does not differ between diets. Our results indicate that fibrous feed increases satiety in growing pigs. Sufficient satiety reduces foraging and feeding motivation and related behavioural problems. High fibre feed is therefore suitable to improve the welfare of fattening pigs.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The behavioural repertoire of the pig includes a large range of exploratory behaviours and a high motivation to forage and manipulate substrate (Day et al 1995, Kittawornrat & Zimmerman 2011. The feed is found and fed in small bouts, the feeding rate therefore low growing pigs a beneficial effect might be found.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of a high-fibre diet on the feeding behaviour of fattening pigs

Kallabis

Kaufmann

2012

Arch. Anim. Breed.

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“…Sense of smell The olfactory system, or sense of smell, of pigs is considered to be their most acute sense (Guntherschulze 1979;Graves 1984;Croney et al 2003;Kittawornrat and Zimmerman 2011). Olfaction plays a key role in navigation through their environment.…”

Section: Physiological Senses Driving Motivationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite high levels of curiosity in domestic pigs (Wood-Gush and Vestergaard 1991;Kittawornrat and Zimmerman 2011), wild pigs are highly sensitive to changes in their environment and often alter their behaviors in response to new objects (Muir and McEwen 2007;Campbell et al 2010). Additionally, commonly used attractants (e.g., corn) oftentimes appeal to non-target species resulting in increased costs and missed opportunity (e.g., tripped traps).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attractants for wild pigs: current use, availability, needs, and future potential

et al. 2017

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Populations of wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are burgeoning around the globe, and they are currently the target of extensive research and management efforts. Wild pigs are a highly successful invasive species that cause extensive damage to agriculture and native plant and animal communities. Lethal control is the most common management strategy used to reduce wild pig populations and their damage, and many lethal strategies rely on luring wild pigs to a specific location. Most commonly, a food commodity such as corn or maize (Zea mays) is used for attracting wild pigs to a site, but baiting with food is sometimes prohibited under wildlife laws, and visitation can be variable due to availability of alternative foods, level of harassment by humans, and acceptance of novel food source, devices, and activity. Wild pigs are highly adaptable with refined senses that enable them to interact with their environment and conspecifics in a complex manner. Wild and domestic pigs share keen senses, though differences exist due to suppressed stimuli, evolutionary gains and losses, or other factors related to needs for survival and fitness. Wild pigs routinely rely on acute olfaction to locate food, detect predators, and communicate with conspecifics. A pig's sense of taste is also considered to be refined and more acute than that of humans. An abundance of evaluations regarding various attractants for wild pigs has been conducted over the last several decades; yet, a scarcity of conclusive results on which attractants to use when and where still exists. As such, we undertook a comprehensive review of available information on potential attractants that could be used to aid management strategies of wild pigs such as hunting/shooting, trapping, pharmaceutical delivery, or density estimation. To complete this review, we assimilated and synthesized the most relevant literature, provide recommendations, and identify attractant evaluation needs for the enhancement of the global management of wild pigs.

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“…Physiological and behavioural studies have identified noise stress during housing (Schäffer et al, 2001;Kittawornrat and Zimmerman, 2011). Pigs exposed to 90 dB of prolonged or intermittent noise increased cortisol, ACTH and the noradrenaline-to-adrenaline ratios (Otten et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Time of day and season affect the level of noise made by pigs kept on slatted floors

et al. 2015

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Abstract. The aim of this study was to prove the hypothesis that the noise emissions from pig housing varies according to the time of day and the season. The measurements were performed in a building for 1150 fattening pigs with a slatted floor during summer and winter. The pigs (average weight 95 kg) were kept in pens under a batch management system. Nine places were the focus of sound intensity measurements (one inside the stable in section 7; eight places outside the building). The measurements were performed during three sets of 5 consecutive days in summer and three sets in winter. On each day the data were obtained during three 30 min periods (before feeding, during feeding and after feeding). The measurement was made inside and outside the building at the same time. The level of noise depends very significantly upon the period of measurement (before feeding, during feeding, after feeding). The following values were recorded inside (place 1): 65.5 ± 1.6 dB before feeding, 72.0 ± 1.4 dB during feeding and 63.4 ± 0.7 dB after feeding (P <0.001). The effect of seasonal noise levels can be seen only in outside measurements (P <0.05; P <0.01). The comparison of measurement place 1 (inside, pen with pigs) with the other places outdoors showed significant differences in both observed factors (P <0.001). We can conclude that the noise in the pig housing depends significantly on the time of day. The season influences the noise outside the building, in particular.

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Toward a better understanding of pig behavior and pig welfare

Cited by 88 publications

References 72 publications

Effect of a high-fibre diet on the feeding behaviour of fattening pigs

Effect of a high-fibre diet on the feeding behaviour of fattening pigs

Attractants for wild pigs: current use, availability, needs, and future potential

Time of day and season affect the level of noise made by pigs kept on slatted floors

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