Influence of timidity and social environment during lactation on maternal reactivity of outdoor sows

Abstract

Influence of timidity (timid when approached by an unknown human vs. control) and social environment during lactation (single vs. group farrowing paddock) on maternal reactivity of outdoor sows was examined in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment with nine replicates of four sows. Selection for timidity was carried out by a human approach test in the gestation paddock three weeks prepartum. During week 1 postpartum the maternal reactivity was tested once in each of three different setups mimicking potential situations of danger to the piglets: the play back of a piglet distress call (SP), disturbance of nursing (DN) and introduction of a human dummy (DT). Generally, timid sows were more reactive than controls; they had a higher first reaction type in DT (P < 0.05) and DN (P <0.1) and tended to have a higher maximal reaction type in SP (P < 0.1). Social environment in the farrowing paddock did not significantly affect the reactivity. The question of whether social relationships between neighbouring sows in farrowing paddocks can influence the maternal reactivity of sows is discussed.

Key words:

• human approach test
• maternal behaviour
• social status
• stress