Flashcards
Species Focus: Pigs
Cards in this deck (40)
- 1What is the social group structure of wild boar?Small, matriarachal social groups
Males join group during breeding season but are solitary for the rest of the year - 2What is the behaviour of wild boar sows close to farrowing?Isolation from group
- 3What determines how well wild boar piglets thrive in relation to their siblings?Teat order established soon after farrowing
- 4What is the circadian rhythms of wild boars?Primarily nocturnal
- 5How long do wild boars spend foraging per day?8 hours a day
- 6What breed are modern commercial pigs?Large White x Landrace
- 7Give 3 phenotypic changes that have occurred in commercial pigs due to selective breedingLarger, leaner animals
Faster growing
Larger litters - 8How can the effect of domestication on pig behaviour be determined?Studies on domestic pigs released into 'natural' environment
E.g. Edinburgh Pig Park Studies (longitudinal study) - 9Give 3 changes in the behaviour of domestic pigs released into natural environmentLess active
Less dominance related aggression
Less predator vigilance
However, behavioural repertoire is the same - 10What is the social behaviour of domestic pigs released into semi-natural environments?Live in family groups
Differentiated social rank relationships within group
Monitoring of each others' activities - 11What is the feeding behaviour of domestic pigs released into semi-natural environments?Forage for patchy food in home ranges
Overlap between groups - 12What is the farrowing behaviour of domestic pigs released into semi-natural environments?Sow isolates from group 1-2 days before farrowing
Nest building starts about 15 hours before farrowing
Sows start leaving nest from day 2 for increasing periods of time
Piglets introduced to group around day 9 - 13When does weaning occur in domestic pigs released into semi-natural environments?16 weeks
Very gradual - 14Is there a difference in nest building behaviour in 'wild type' and domestic sows?No
- 15Is there a difference in nursing behaviour in 'wild type' and domestic sows?No
- 16What is the difference between nutritive and non-nutritive suckling?Nutritive suckling = milk let-down
Non-nutritive suckling = suckle to stimulate sow to let down milk - 17Is there a difference in leaving the nest between 'wild type' and domestic sows?No
- 18Is there a difference in lactation behaviour between 'wild type' and domestic sows?Yes
Some differences in activity - spend more time lying and less in locomotion - 19Give 4 sow-related welfare issues in modern commercial pigsFeed restricted during gestation causing increased hunger levels
Aggression due to frequent mixing of sows and competition for food
Crushing of piglets
Farrowing crates - 20What was a behavioural expression of feed restriction during gestation when sows were housed in stalls?Oral stereotypies
- 21Compare the weights of sows and piglets to illustrate why piglets are vulnerable to farrowing cratesSows = up to 240 kg
Piglets = 1 kg at birth - 22What is the main advantage of farrowing crates?Decrease in piglet mortality due to crushing
- 23Give 3 other advantages of farrowing cratesSafer for stockman
Easier to clean
Easier to view piglets/ sow and treat as necessary - 24What is the main welfare issue with farrowing crates?Behavioural restriction of nest building behaviour
- 25Give 4 physical welfare issues that can arise from farrowing cratesUrinary tract infection
Sores and injuries from pen
Slat induced foot problems
Weaker bones and muscles - 26Give 4 behavioural welfare issues that arise from farrowing cratesStereotypies
Apathy
Poor postural changes
No get away - 27Give 2 physiological welfare issues that arise from farrowing cratesHigher baseline cortisol
Increased levels of stillbirth - 28Give 2 consequences of restricted nest building behaviour in farrowing cratesIncreased time manipulating floor and cage fittings compared to pens
Greater increase in cortisol levels prior to farrowing compared to pens - 29What is parent-offspring contact?Offspring actively solicit or manipulate parents into providing care
In offspring's best interests to solicit as much care as possible
In parent's best interests to conserve some resources for future offspring - 30What happens to parent-offspring conflict over time?Increases as offspring age increases
- 31Give an example of how provided to current offspring can influence the number/ quality of future offspring?Lactation can cause weight loss and subsequent reduced fertility
- 32How do farrowing crates affect parent-offspring conflict?Offspring benefit from high levels of milk production
Sows cannot regulate milk investment
Parent offspring conflict strongly biased in favour of the piglets - 33Give 2 physical consequences of parent offspring conflict in crated sowsLie on their udders for increasing time periods, especially after 3rd week of lactation = health problems with udder
- 34What are get-away farrowing pens?Allow sows to leave piglets by stepping over piglet-proof barrier
- 35When do sows in get-away farrowing pens start to decrease proportion of time spent with piglets?After 2nd week of lactation
- 36Give 2 advantages to the sow of get-away farrowing cratesReduced milk production
Less weight loss during lactation meaning a return to oestrus more promptly - 37Give an advantage to the piglets of get-away farrowing pensAs milk production declines piglets eat more solid food so are better prepared for weaning
- 38What is a disadvantage of get-away farrowing pens?Higher piglet mortality due to crushing
- 39What is an advantage of outdoor farrowing systems?Promote natural behaviours such as nest building and escape from piglets
- 40What percentage of UK herds farrow outdoors?40%
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- BVSc Animal Management 2 (Behaviour & Welfare) Flashcards on Species Focus: Pigs, created by Florence Edwards on 09/12/2016.
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- Florence Edwards · Dec 2016
- Updated
- Dec 10, 2016
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