Lesson 11 - Pig Behavior, Welfare , & Assessment Flashcards
How long do pigs spend foraging on average, and how far do the travel while doing so?
7 hours of rooting over 1/3 to 1/2 mile
True or False: Pigs spend more time resting than any other animal?
True; only 36% of time is spent awake
How are pig social groups typically structured?
1 to 4 females and offspring in a group (sounder) with most males living solitarily
What do female pigs do when ready to give birth?
Become solitary and build a nest for farrowing
Describe teat-seeking behavior in piglets
Vigorous massage of udder, teat sampling, aggression (biting/pushing) toward littermates for spot until teat order established (bigger pigs tend to get better teats and grow to be the dominant pig)
How is aggression used in the pig social hierarchy?
To establish order but not maintain, and males fight for access to females
What is the significance of olfaction for pigs?
Communication and recognizing individual pigs (via urine odor)
How do pigs generally prefer to eat?
Several small meals per day
Do pigs prefer to urinate/defecate in particular areas?
Yes; pigs will often eliminate in one area in order to keep resting areas clean, and piglets tend to eliminate near walls
Do pigs partake in allogrooming?
No; but they do body contact with conspecifics!
What are some common physical characteristics of active conflict/aggression between pigs?
Hair on back erected, pushing against neck/shoulders, biting face/ears/neck, levering head under other pig, rump biting, chomping jaws w/ heavy salivation (males)
