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Effect of familiarity with the environment on the behaviour and performance response of sows and piglets grouped during lactation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 November 2021

W. Wattanakul ,
A.H. Stewart ,
S.A. Edwards  and
P.R. English
W. Wattanakul
Affiliation:
Scottish Agriculture College, Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, AB21 9YA, UK University of Aberdeen, 581 King Street, Aberdeen, AB24 SUA, UK
A.H. Stewart
Affiliation:
Scottish Agriculture College, Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, AB21 9YA, UK
S.A. Edwards
Affiliation:
Scottish Agriculture College, Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, AB21 9YA, UK
P.R. English
Affiliation:
University of Aberdeen, 581 King Street, Aberdeen, AB24 SUA, UK
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Extract

Disruption in suckling patterns and cross-suckling was observed to a high degree following grouping of litters in a multisuckling system, resulting in a reduction in piglets’ performance before weaning (Wattanakul et al, 1995). Relocation of the sows between crates while litters were grouped in a farrowing house also increased the incidence of cross-suckling, whereas grouping the piglets without relocating the sows did not (Wattanakul et al, 1996). Familiarity with the home location before grouping might therefore reduce the incidence of cross-suckling in a multisuckling system. This experiment was designed to investigate the effects of familiarity with a suckling place prior to grouping on suckling behaviour and performance of piglets.

Type
Programme
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science , Volume 1997 , 1997 , pp. 110
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1997

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References

Wattanakul, W. Stewart, A.H., Edwards, S.A. and English, P.R. 1995. A comparison of performance and behaviour of Meishan crossbred sows and piglets in crate and multisuckling systems. Anim. Sci., 60: 564 (abstr).Google Scholar
Wattanakul, W. Stewart, A.H., Edwards, S.A. and English, P.R. 1996. The effect of grouping piglets and changing sow location on suckling behaviour and performance. Anim. Sci., 62: 676 (abstr).Google Scholar