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Tonic immobility in pigs: two interpretations — coping strategies or fear

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2018

H. W. Erhard  and
M. Mendl
H. W. Erhard
Affiliation:
Genetics and Behavioural Sciences Department, SAC Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG Institute of Cell, Animal and Population Biology, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT
M. Mendl
Affiliation:
Genetics and Behavioural Sciences Department, SAC Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
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Extract

The concept of ‘coping strategies’ has received increasing attention over the last few years. Benus et al. (1991) reported two major types of strategy in rodents. These were the so-called active and passive strategies. The active strategy consists of being aggressive, forming behavioural routines and showing low responsiveness to changes in the environment, the passive strategy involves being low aggressive, flexible and responsive to changes in the environment. Hessing et al. (1993) reported similar findings in pigs. These strategies have potential implications for pig husbandry, since they may be more or less adaptive in specific farming environments.

Type
Poster abstracts
Information
BSAP Occasional Publication , Volume 20: Animal Choices , 1997 , pp. 109 - 110
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 1997

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References

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