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A note on instability of the dominance hierarchy and variations in level of aggression within groups of fattening pigs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

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

Social organization in the pig is based on the dominance hierarchy. Hitherto this has been assumed to be stable but present studies have shown that spontaneous changes of rank can occur. It has proved almost impossible, however, to alter social ranks artificially. Pig groups also show considerable fluctuations from day to day in the level of aggression at feeding periods. This variation cannot be correlated with the occurrence of sexual cycles in the females or variations in the general level of group activity.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 14 , Issue 3 , June 1972 , pp. 359 - 362
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1972

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References

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