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Consistency of Measurement of Social Status in Dry-Sows Group-Housed in Indoor and Outdoor Systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

R H Bradshaw ,
J Skyrme ,
E E Brenninkmeijer  and
D M Broom
R H Bradshaw*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 OES, UK
J Skyrme
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 OES, UK
E E Brenninkmeijer
Affiliation:
Van Hall Instituut, Professional University for Food Technology, Environment and Agriculture, Agora 1, P O Box 1528, 8901 BV Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
D M Broom
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 OES, UK
*
† Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints
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Abstract

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Each of two 20-sow groups consisted of gilts ie virgin sows (one third) and sows (parity 2-5, ie sows which had given birth 2-5 times). One group was housed indoors with a straw-covered lying area and dunging area. Another group was housed outdoors with a covered straw lying area and two rooting fields. Behavioural observations were made on both groups: indoor sows were observed for 4h day−1, for 10 days (40h); outdoor sows were observed for 6h day−1, for 21 days (126h). Social interactions were classified as threat, bite, knock and push. Continuous data on the type of interaction and the winner or loser were recorded. Four measures of social status, based on social behaviour, were calculated: i) displacement index; ii) level of interaction; iii) success in interactions; and iv) matrix dominance. Spearman rank correlation coefficients between different ranked measures of social status within each group (outdoor or indoor) were significant for displacement index, success in interaction and matrix dominance. The level of interaction did not correlate with other measures (except for matrix dominance in the indoor group). Measures of displacement, success in interaction and matrix dominance provide highly consistent and correlated measures of social status.

Keywords

animal welfarebehaviourdominancesocial statussows
Type
Short Communication
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 9 , Issue 1 , February 2000 , pp. 75 - 79
Copyright
© 2000 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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