The influence of early life socialisation on cognition in the domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica)

Jennifer E Weller,Simon P Turner,Gareth Arnott,Agnieszka Futro,Mark Brims,Jo Donbavand

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-76110-5

Jennifer E Weller, Simon P Turner + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-76110-5

Copy DOI

Abstract

Previously, the benefits of early-life socialisation on later-life social development have been reported in pigs. Here we investigated the effect of pre-weaning socialisation on the later-life cognitive ability of pigs using a range of techniques. Pre-weaning, 101 piglets had access to a neighbouring pen from ~ 15 days of age and interacted with non-littermates (socialised). An additional 89 piglets remained isolated within their home pen (controls). After weaning, 100 individuals were selected for a range of cognitive tests including a food reward T-maze test, reversal learning T-maze test, a social preference T-maze test, and a puzzle box test. Performance during the food reward test was not influenced by treatment. Treatment effected improvement over the course of the reversal learning test, with controls showing a significant decrease in trial duration after the first two trials. During the social preference test, socialised pigs spent significantly more time in the presence of larger stimulus pigs than controls and were quicker to leave the middle of the maze, suggesting improved social skills. Neither sex nor treatment was observed to influence pig’s ability to solve the puzzle box. Thus, overall, evidence from the social preference test suggests an effect of pre-weaning socialisation on aspects of social cognitive development.

Highlights

The benefits of early-life socialisation on later-life social development have been reported in pigs
The time taken to find the reward, the total number of entries into either side of the maze, the number of incorrect entries, and the number of correct entries that did or did not result in the individual locating the food reward were analysed as separate dependent outcomes using general linear mixed effects models (GLME’s)
In conclusion we found no evidence to suggest that socialised individuals relied on reference memory over the course of the food reward tests

Summary

Introduction

The benefits of early-life socialisation on later-life social development have been reported in pigs. 100 individuals were selected for a range of cognitive tests including a food reward T-maze test, reversal learning T-maze test, a social preference T-maze test, and a puzzle box test. Overall, evidence from the social preference test suggests an effect of pre-weaning socialisation on aspects of social cognitive development. The term ‘animal cognition’ refers to the collection of processes through which an animal obtains, retains, and decides to act upon information gathered about the world around them[1] Such processes, including memory, learning, problem solving, and communication, have been studied in an extensive range of species[2], including the domestic pig, Sus scrofa domestica [reviewed in3–5].

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion