Natural Farrowing Behavior of the Sow and Piglets

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2010-12-29
Authors
Johnson, Anna
Marchant-Forde, Jeremy
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Johnson, Anna
Professor Animal Behavior and Welfare
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Animal Science

The Department of Animal Science originally concerned itself with teaching the selection, breeding, feeding and care of livestock. Today it continues this study of the symbiotic relationship between animals and humans, with practical focuses on agribusiness, science, and animal management.

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The Department of Animal Husbandry was established in 1898. The name of the department was changed to the Department of Animal Science in 1962. The Department of Poultry Science was merged into the department in 1971.

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Abstract

To determine the best practices for providing good sow and litter welfare in the farrowing accommodation, a good starting point is to re-examine the behavioral patterns that have been documented around farrowing and during lactation, in a natural or semi-natural environment. There is a series of behaviors carried out, with sows and piglets undergoing various phases of isolation, community integration, and living. Jensen has proposed that maternal behavior can be divided into six distinct parts: (i) isolation and nest site seeking, (ii) nest building, (iii) farrowing, (iv) nest occupation, (v) social integration, and (vi) weaning [1].

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This report is published as Johnson, A. K., and J. N. Marchant-Forde. 2011. Natural farrowing behavior of the sow and her piglets. Pork Information Gateway. Factsheet PIG 05-04-01.

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