Abstract
Piglet-directed aggression at farrowing was investigated on seven large, new pig units. Gilts were subject to a light (continuous or diurnal light) and/or sound (newborn piglet vocalisations or no vocalisations) treatment around the time of farrowing. Behaviour records were collected for the first farrowing of 6625 crossbred gilts. The incidence of savaging, number of piglets affected by it and factors associated with piglet-directed aggressive behaviour were recorded. Piglet-directed aggression was scored as 0 (none), 1 (moderate) or 2 (severe). Effects of the light and sound treatments, situation of the farrowing crate within the farrowing room and time (from first to fourth fill of the farrowing rooms) were examined. Three hundred and thirty-one gilts (5.3%) displayed some degree of aggression towards their piglets (scoring either 1 or 2), while 201 (2.9%) killed piglets.
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