Physiological parameters in rats have been shown to predict the outcome of a fight before the result is behaviourally apparent (Schuurman, 1980). In pigs, Marchant et al. (1995) have demonstrated that losing animals have higher heart rate values than winning ones during and just after agonistic interactions. The present study aimed to investigate at what stage differences in pig heart rate can be detected between animals which will lose and animals which will win an ensuing aggressive encounter.
Three groups of seven multiparious PIC Camborough sows were subjected to pair wise food competition tests, within groups. In each group all possible 21 pairs were tested. Sows had spent at least two weeks in their groups prior to testing and were normally fed in stalls.