Some behavioural deviations in weaned domestic pigs: Persistent inguinal nose thrusting, and tail and ear biting

Groups of pigs were observed from weaning to marketing for the incidence of tail and/or ear biting and persistent inguinal nose thrusting. The 16 groups included single and mixed litters, single or mixed-sex ratios, and comprised up to 12 pigs; 14 of the groups showed biting behaviour and 12 groups showed persistent inguinal nose thrusting behaviour. The onset of biting appeared from 0 to 44 days after weaning, and persistent inguinal nose thrusting was first observed 4 to 22 days after weaning. There was a significant relationship between the number of pigs biting and being bitten in a group. The high ranks tend to bite middle and low ranks more than expected, the middle ranks bite other middle ranks more than expected, and low ranks bite the least. Within any rank there was no difference between male and females biting or being bitten. The most common situation was to have, in a group, some pigs which only tail bit, others that only ear bit, and others which both tail and ear bit. It is suggested that biting is a learned response spread by visual communication, so that visual barriers around affected groups may help to limit the spread of an outbreak. In persistent inguinal nose thrusting behaviour, rank was important, as the top ranking pigs were the most most likely to show persistent inguinal nose thrusting. Persistent inguinal nose thrusting may have its origin in udder seeking, exploratory or rooting behaviour, but becomes used mainly by dominant pigs. The behaviour is halted by the pig which received the nose thrusts moving away

THE EFFECT OF PEN DESIGN AND THE TRANQUILISING DRUG, AZAPERONE, ON THE GROWTH AND BEHAVIOUR OF WEANED PIGS

SUMMARY Two experiments were carried out in a 55‐sow, specific pathogen free commercial unit, to assess the effects of the tranquilising drug, azaperone, on pigs mixed at weaning. The drug is claimed to inhibit aggression in pigs mixed at weaning, and also to increase the average weight gain in groups of growing pigs. The first experiment used a single test and control group, and the second experiment was a 2 times 2 factorial design, the variables being the presence or absence of the drug, and the presence or absence of a box used to modify the weaner pen environment. In both experiments there were no significant differences in rates of agonistic interactions between treated and untreated groups, although the drug delayed the first agonistic encounters for about 8 hours. Nor was there any difference in the relative growth rate between treated and untreated groups in either experiment. Copyrigh

Effect of environmental design on the growth and behaviour of weaned pigs

Large White × Landrace pigs weaned at 24-29 days were placed in a structured environment planned as a 2 × 2 factoral design. The two variables were the presence or absence of a box (1.2 m × 0.92 m × 0.86 m) and the presence or absence of an extended floor which increased the solid area in the control pen from 60% of the total area to 80%. The box with no extended floor exceeded all other environments in stimulating the relative growth rates of the piglets. On removal of the temperature covariance the box still accounted for most of the variance in relative growth rate. Elements of the box (element 1, corner, back and side wall; element 2, corner, front and side wall; element 3, side wall only; element 4, back wall only) were tested for effect on relative growth rate and it was found that element 3, side wall only, promoted the most regular growth rates. The rates of agonistic behaviour over each 10 min were not significantly different for pigs in any of the tested environments

Attitudes of dog owners to neutering pets: demographic data and effects of owner attitudes.

A survey of the attitudes of dog owners to desexing male and female dogs was conducted in the Brisbane area. Over 15,800 replies (35% response) were returned for analyses and included both demographic and attitude data. The most common reasons given by owners for not having the dog desexed were that it was unnecessary or they wanted to breed from it or could not afford it or did not agree with it or that the dog was too old or it might get fat. Nearly twice as many male owners agreed that desexing male dogs removed maleness and also more males agreed with the question "Do you equate dog sexuality with human sexuality?" Female owners were more aware than males that their female dogs did not need to have a season (oestrus) or a litter before being desexed. More male owners thought that desexing changed a male or female dog's personality. A disturbing fact was that 61.1% of male owners and 47.3% of female owners would now not have their dog desexed if it had not already been done. More male than female dog owners were ignorant about whether desexing changed personality, made dogs frustrated, or if female dogs should have a season or a litter before desexing. The study showed a gender bias in owner attitudes to all the attitude questions