The effects of socializing piglets prior to weaning on nursery performance and behavior

Abstract Text:

This study was conducted to determine if socializing piglets during lactation improved their performance after weaning.  A farrowing room with 6 pens was used and piglets (n=193) were obtained from 23 sows over four replications.  The solid barriers between 3 farrowing pens were removed on d 12 after birth and the barriers remained separating the other 3 farrowing pens until weaning of all piglets on d 21 after birth.   Weanling pigs that were either socialized or not, were assigned to nursery pens (2.5 x 1.25 m) located in an environmentally controlled room and all pigs received the same diets, which met or exceeded NRC requirements.  Each pig was weighed daily from d 21 to d 35 after birth and their activity was continually recorded using surveillance video from d 21 to d 35 after birth.  The behavior of pigs (lying, active, feeding, agonistic) was recorded by 10 observers using digital video playback.  The duration of a behavior was timed and recorded when 75% or more of the pigs were engaging in a specific behavior during the elapsed time period.  The ADG in the nursery of pigs that were socialized prior to weaning (0.48 ± 0.02 kg) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared to those that were not socialized prior to weaning (0.39 ± 0.03 kg).  However, there were no differences in ADG between the treatments from weaning to d 3 after weaning.  Nursery pigs that were socialized prior to weaning had a significantly lower occurrence (P < 0.05) of aggressive behavior (30.0 ± 2.5%) during the first 6 h after weaning compared to those pigs that were not socialized (85.0 ± 3.5%).  Similarly, nursery pigs that were socialized prior to weaning had a significantly lower occurrence (P < 0.05) of aggressive behavior from 6 h to 36 h after weaning compared to those pigs that were not socialized.  There were no significant behavior differences between groups for all other times.  The results of this study suggest that socializing piglets from different litters prior to weaning reduces stress and improves performance in the nursery.

Keywords: Behavior, Socializing, Weanling Pigs