Network analysis of tail-biting in pigs – indirect effect on tail posture

Wilder, Thore; Krieter, Joachim; Kemper, Nicole; Büttner, Kathrin

doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2021.104668

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Social network analysis (SNA) has increased in popularity in the fields of animal ethology and welfare science as it provides new perspectives regarding complex social structures [ 12 , 13 ]. In pigs, SNA has been used to monitor and understand the patterns of different harmful behaviours such as fighting, bullying, and tail biting [ 14 , 15 , 16 ], as well as identifying the dominance hierarchy in the group [ 16 ]. Moreover, SNA has been shown to provide a more accurate prediction of skin lesions resulting from long-term chronic aggression compared to conventional approaches, which make no reference to the opponents fought [ 17 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic Associations of Novel Behaviour Traits Derived from Social Network Analysis with Growth, Feed Efficiency, and Carcass Characteristics in Pigs

Agha

Turner

Lewis

et al. 2022

Genes

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Reducing harmful aggressive behaviour remains a major challenge in pig production. Social network analysis (SNA) showed the potential in providing novel behavioural traits that describe the direct and indirect role of individual pigs in pen-level aggression. Our objectives were to (1) estimate the genetic parameters of these SNA traits, and (2) quantify the genetic associations between the SNA traits and commonly used performance measures: growth, feed intake, feed efficiency, and carcass traits. The animals were video recorded for 24 h post-mixing. The observed fighting behaviour of each animal was used as input for the SNA. A Bayesian approach was performed to estimate the genetic parameters of SNA traits and their association with the performance traits. The heritability estimates for all SNA traits ranged from 0.01 to 0.35. The genetic correlations between SNA and performance traits were non-significant, except for weighted degree with hot carcass weight, and for both betweenness and closeness centrality with test daily gain, final body weight, and hot carcass weight. Our results suggest that SNA traits are amenable for selective breeding. Integrating these traits with other behaviour and performance traits may potentially help in building up future strategies for simultaneously improving welfare and performance in commercial pig farms.

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