Individual variation and consistency in piglet behaviour
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In order to investigate consistency in individual variations in piglet behaviour, the undisturbed behaviour of 42 piglets from 13 litters was recorded in their home pens at three different times: (1) during 60 min post-partum; (2) during 16 min following three sucklings when the piglets were 16-24 h old; (3) the same as (2), when the piglets were 3 weeks old. In addition, the same piglets were exposed to a 30 min open-field test in a separate test arena at the age of 3 weeks. Twenty-seven of the same piglets were subjected to three identical social challenge tests at the age of 5 weeks. Twelve other female piglets from three litters were exposed to three identical open-field tests. There was no measurable consistency in the undisturbed behaviour of the piglets between different ages, and no correlation between the undisturbed behaviour and the reactions in the open-field test or the social challenge test. Some behaviour was consistent between different open-field tests. In conclusion, our data do not indicate the existence of consistent individual behavioural strategies in pigs similar to the coping strategies of mice and rats.
Originalsprog | Engelsk |
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Tidsskrift | Applied Animal Behaviour Science |
Vol/bind | 45 |
Udgave nummer | 1-2 |
Sider (fra-til) | 43-52 |
Antal sider | 10 |
ISSN | 0168-1591 |
DOI | |
Status | Udgivet - okt. 1995 |
ID: 338347256