Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-sh8wx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-21T07:11:13.618Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The effects of stocking density and pen shape on the behaviour, incidence of aggression and subsequent skin damage of sows mixed in a specialised mixing pen

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

C. M. Docking
Affiliation:
ADAS Pig Research Unit, Terrington St. Clement, King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE34 4PW, United Kingdom
R. M. Kay
Affiliation:
ADAS Pig Research Unit, Terrington St. Clement, King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE34 4PW, United Kingdom
X. Whittaker
Affiliation:
ADAS Pig Research Unit, Terrington St. Clement, King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE34 4PW, United Kingdom
A. Burfoot
Affiliation:
ADAS Pig Research Unit, Terrington St. Clement, King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE34 4PW, United Kingdom
J. E. L. Day
Affiliation:
ADAS Pig Research Unit, Terrington St. Clement, King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE34 4PW, United Kingdom
Get access

Extract

The mixing of unfamiliar sows at weaning forces the establishment of dominance hierarchies, which frequently involves aggression (Kay et al, 1999). The objective of this study was to determine whether different stocking densities and pen shapes would reduce the incidence of aggression and levels of skin damage. The ultimate aim was to design a mixing pen which could be used to enhance the welfare of groups of newly-weaned sows.

Type
Theatre Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2000

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

Kay, R.M., Burfoot, A., Spoolder, H.A.M. and Docking, C.M., 1999. Effect of flight distance on aggression and skin damage of newly weaned sows at mixing. Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science (p.14).CrossRefGoogle Scholar