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Social behaviour of domestic animals. IV. Growing pigs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

G. McBride ,
J. W. James  and
N. Hodgens
G. McBride
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Husbandry, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
J. W. James
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Husbandry, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
N. Hodgens
Affiliation:
Queensland Agricultural College, Lawes, Australia
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Extract

1. The normal pattern of social behaviour in growing Large White and Berkshire pigs is described. The pigs were observed from 8 to 16 weeks of age in pens of 6 to 10 pigs. Large Whites were more aggressive than Berkshires.

2. Social rank was found to be positively correlated with initial weight.

3. Initial weight and social rank both influenced growth; the relative effect of rank compared with that of initial weight was greater in the second month than in the first.

4. The contribution of social rank to the total variance in growth over the 2-month period was estimated at about 13%.

5. It is suggested that the use of individual housing in pig progeny test schemes may not be desirable because of the absence of social environmental effects.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , June 1964 , pp. 129 - 139
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1964

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References

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