Socializing piglets before weaning: Effects on behavior of lactating sows, pre- and postweaning behavior, and performance of piglets

Abstract

This study evaluated how socializing piglets before weaning affects behavior of lactating sows and the pre- and postweaning behavior and performance of piglets. Two farrowing rooms, each with 6 pens, and 1 nursery with 4 pens were used. In total, data were obtained from 24 sows and their litters. In each farrowing room, the solid barriers between 3 farrowing pens were removed on d 12 after farrowing, and the sows remained confined in their crates (experimental group). In the other 3 farrowing pens of each farrowing room, sows and their litters were kept under conventional conditions until weaning (control group). All piglets were weaned 28 d after birth. After weaning, piglets from each group remained together in 1 pen of the nursery. The behavior of sows (lying, standing, sitting, nursing) and piglets (lying, active, suckling) in the farrowing rooms was observed for 24 h before and for 48 h after removal of the barriers between the pens. In addition, behavior (active, lying, feeding, agonistic behavior) of piglets was observed in the nursery during the initial 48-h period after weaning. Each piglet was weighed on d 5, 12, and 28 after birth and thereafter weekly until the fifth week of rearing. In the farrowing room, mixing of litters did not influence behavior of piglets and sows. Preweaning weight gain of the piglets did not differ (P = 0.60) between the treatments. In the initial 48 h after weaning, less agonistic behavior (P < 0.001) was observed in piglets belonging to the experimental group. During 5 wk of rearing, piglets in the experimental group gained more weight compared with the control group (P = 0.05). The advantage shown by the experimental group became especially conspicuous in the first week after weaning (P = 0.05). By socializing unfamiliar piglets before weaning, stress due to mixing could at least be distanced in time from the other burdens of weaning, thereby improving performance.

Welfare of entire male pigs is improved by socialising piglets and keeping intact groups until slaughter

“…socialised) kept in intact groups than among unknown mixed pigs. This is in accordance with Kutzer et al (2009) andHessel et al (2006) who compared aggressive behaviour between socialised and control piglets for 48 h after mixing at weaning. According to D'Eath (2005), socialised piglets learn social skills that enable them to rapidly form stable hierarchies.…”

“…Socialising piglets has been performed in several studies (D'Eath, 2005;Hessel et al, 2006;Kutzer et al, 2009;Fà brega et al, 2013), but it has not become a common practice in conventional production. The fact that entire males perform more aggressive and sexual behaviour than castrates, in combination with the ambition to stop castration, increases the relevance of early socialising in conventional pig production.…”

Alternative farrowing systems: design criteria for farrowing systems based on the biological needs of sows and piglets

“…In addition, the foraging activities displayed outside the nest site satisfy the piglets' desire to perform exploratory behaviours, rooting and manipulating substrates and beginning the adaptation to solid food intake. The early socialisation benefits the piglets by reducing the impact of weaning (Pajor et al, 1999;Hessel et al, 2006), particularly reducing the effects of mixing aggression. D'Eath (2005) demonstrated that pre-weaning mixing of piglets reduced aggression levels at weaning and this socialisation appeared to equip piglets with social skills that benefitted them in the long term, enabling them to more rapidly form stable dominance hierarchies during future aggressive encounters with unfamiliar pigs.…”

A review of sow and piglet behaviour and performance in group housing systems for lactating sows

“…(Melotti et al, 2011). Compared with piglets that were first mixed at weaning at an age of 3 to 4 weeks, piglets that could interact with one or more litters before weaning showed less aggression (Weary et al, 2002;Hessel et al, 2006;Kutzer et al, 2009) and skin lesions (Parratt et al, 2006) after weaning when kept with familiar piglets. This was likely because new hierarchies did not need to be established.…”

“…Potential factors contributing to a better adaptation to the post-weaning situation are improved social skills, the absence of mixing of piglets at weaning, increased experience with solid feed or a higher weaning age (Berkeveld et al, 2009). For instance, piglets mingled with other litters during lactation gained 0.8 to 1.0 kg more in the 5 weeks post-weaning compared with housing without contact possibilities (Hessel et al, 2006;Kutzer et al, 2009).…”