Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-mp689 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T21:48:46.420Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Social behaviour of domestic animals VII. Variation in weaning weight in pigs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

Get access

Summary

Regression analyses were made of the inter-relations among weights at day-old, 3 and 8 weeks, teat order, social order and litter size in 41 litters of young pigs.

Birth weight and teat order accounted for 40 % of the variation of 3-week weight within litters. Social rank was strongly influenced by 3-week weight, but not by birth weight or teat order except through their effects on 3-week weight. About 70% of the within-litter variation in 8-week weight was attributable to 3-week weight and social rank. Of the total variation in 8-week weight about 55 % could be explained in terms of the other variables. The effect of litter size on 8-week weight appeared to differ considerably in the Berkshire and Large White pigs used in this study.

On the assumption of a causal sequence in time, the within-litter variation in 8-week weight was partitioned into fractions of 19% due to birth weight, 5 % due to teat order, 29 % due to 3-week weight and 17 % due to social rank.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1965

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Fisher, R. A., & Yates, F., 1957. Statistical Tables for Biological, Agricultural and Medical Research. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh.Google Scholar
James, J. W., & Foenander, F., 1961. Social behaviour studies in domestic animals. I. Hens in laying cages. Aust. J. agric. Res., 12: 1239.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kempthorne, O., 1957. An Introduction to Genetic Statistics. John Wiley & Sons, New York.Google Scholar
McBride, G., 1963. The ‘teat order’ and communication in young pigs. Anim. Behav., 11: 53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McBride, G., James, J. W., & Hodgens, N. W., 1964. Social behaviour of domestic animals. IV. Growing pigs. Anim. Prod., 6: 129.Google Scholar
Wyeth, G. S. F., & McBride, G., 1964. Social behaviour of domestic animals. V. A note on sucking behaviour in young pigs. Anim. Prod., 6: 245.Google Scholar