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Aggressive behaviour in groups of domesticated pigs on removal and return of individuals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

R. Ewbank  and
G. B. Meese
R. Ewbank
Affiliation:
Sub-Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool
G. B. Meese
Affiliation:
Sub-Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool
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Summary

Several groups of eight fattening (18 kg to 91 kg) Large White pigs containing both immature female and castrated male animals were established, were fed twice a day on a commercial dry ration, were observed at feeding time and their social orders (linear dominance hierarchy) worked out. Individual pigs were removed, one at a time, from different places in the social order, isolated for varying periods of time, and then replaced in their groups. It was found that the removal of a pig from any rank in the dominance order altered neither the basic social hierarchy nor the amount of aggression within the remainder of the group. The duration of time that an animal could be removed, isolated and returned without being attacked by the rest of its group varied with its social rank. Top-ranking animals could be safely returned even after 25 days' isolation, but lowranking animals were severely attacked after only 3 days' absence.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 13 , Issue 4 , November 1971 , pp. 685 - 693
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1971

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References

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