Regulation of Contact with Offspring by Domestic Sows: Temporal Patterns and Individual Variation

摘要: We used a sow-controlled housing system to examine temporal and individual variation in the tendency of sows associate with young. During 5-week lactation, 22 litters were housed pen where sow could freely leave re-enter piglets’ area by stepping over barrier that piglets not cross. Despite this option, remained almost constantly during 1st day after birth. Nineteen (‘leavers’) changed spending most their time away from litter at some point lactation. The change was rapid, often within single week, occurred week 2, 3, 4 or 5, depending on individual. rapid increase related characteristics litter, including parity, size sex ratio. Three (‘stayers’) did as lactation advanced, rarely spent more than 15% piglet-free area. Nearly all showed clear preference defecate This study shows 1. voluntarily reduce contact young; 2. timing reduction varies greatly amongst for reasons may relate differences maternal motivation, 3. do abandon if young cannot follow. developed reinforces physiological evidence constant confinement older is aversive many sows.