A note on the development of behaviour of intensively managed piglets in the humid tropics

Abstract

AbstractThe behaviour development of intensively managed piglets, pre-weaning, in the hot humid tropics was studied with 18 litters of the Large White breed. The effect of age, sex and period of day (morning and afternoon) on the frequencies of some 14 behaviours from 1 day after birth until 34 days of age were examined using focal animal sampling on 36 piglets. Time spent lying and standing in contact declined. Time spent lying and standing alone, walking and the frequency of tail wagging, rubbing and scratching body parts, playing and fighting all significantly increased with age (P < 0·05). There was a significant (P < 0·05) linear trend, with age, in the eating of concentrates, which began at 2 weeks of age, and drinking water which occurred on the day after birth. Piglets were more active in the hot afternoons (12.00 to 16.00 h) than the cold mornings (08.00 to 12.00 h). There were no significant differences between males and females in any behavioural pattern (P < 0·05).