Abstract
The effect of intermittent electroshock and housing on sexual proceptive behaviour shown in the home pen was studied in pair-housed and individually housed gilts. In addition, the effect of intermittent electroshock on the behavioral response to boar stimulation and on sexual receptivity during the first oestrus was studied in pair-housed gilts. From 115 to 168 ± 2.6 days of age, 24 female pigs were subjected to inescapable electroshocks administered 0–5 times daily between 08:00 and 16:00 h and 24 female pigs served as controls. At 168 ± 2.6 days of age the gilts were given 30 min full boar contact. Immediately after the initial boar contact the gilts were assigned within stress treatment to either pair-housing (12 control and 12 electroshocked gilts) or individual housing (12 control and 12 electroshocked gilts). Oestrus detection was carried out twice daily from then on. Behaviour in the home pen was observed in all 48 gilts during the first and second day of the first oestrus and during two control days 5–8 days after oestrus. The behavioral response to boar stimulation and the sexual receptivity were observed on the 24 pair-housed gilts in 5-min tests carried out the day after the initial boar contact and during the first day of oestrus, respectively. Intermittent inescapable electroshocks affected neither the behavioral response to boar stimulation nor the sexual receptivity and proceptive behaviour in the home pen. The behavioral response was, however, of importance for the stimulatory value of the boar in that gilts which showed high levels of fear of the boar during stimulation had a lower probability of attaining puberty within 10 days after the initial boar contact. The proceptive behaviour shown in the home pen was both quantitatively and qualitatively different for individually housed and pair housed gilts, which may be of importance for the ease of oestrus detection as well as for the behavioral indicators that could practically be used for heat detection.
Published Version
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