Aggression between unfamiliar pigs at mixing is a major animal welfare problem in
commercial farming. It has been studied since the 1970s and remains an important topic in …

A recent telephone survey of 735 Dutch farmers with group housing of sows in early
pregnancy suggested a wide variation in reproductive success, irrespective of husbandry …

Farm animals are social species with a strong tendency to form groups. Living in groups has
associated costs and benefits. The costs refer mostly to competition for food, or access to …

This scientific opinion focuses on the welfare of pigs on farm, and is based on literature and
expert opinion. All pig categories were assessed: gilts and dry sows, farrowing and lactating …

Around 50% of the postnatal death in piglets is caused by crushing or overlying by the
domestic sow (Sus scrofa) when they are kept loose in a farrowing pen. To solve some of …

Weaning of piglets involves a combination of stressors: a change of environment and diet,
separation from the sow and mixing of unfamiliar litters. If litters are mixed before weaning …

Aggressive and sexual behaviour in entire males and females were studied on 408 pigs.
The sum of aggressive interactions in the pen during routine feeding (ALP) was lowest in …

This study investigated the effects of different environmental treatments and personality
types on aggression at mixing of newly weaned domestic piglets. From birth to weaning, 16 …

The pig industry faces many animal welfare issues. Among these, biting behaviour has a
high incidence. It is indicative of an existing problem in biters and is a source of physical …

This study was designed to estimate genetic variation in aggressive behaviour of sows at
mixing, and in maternal ability for the same sows. The study included 835 sows observed for …