Pre- and post-farrowing behaviour in primiparous domesticated pigs

The pre- and post-farrowing behaviour in 8 free and 7 tethered Dutch Landrace gilts was studied and recorded by time-lapse video and focal observations from 6 days before until 6 days after parturition. Farrowing strongly influenced behaviours such as rooting, sniffing, foraging and chewing (Group 1). In tethered gilts, rooting at, sniffing at, head on bars, grinding and biting at (Group 2) were also influenced by farrowing. It is argued that Group 2 behaviours are re-directed Group 1 behaviours and should therefore be evaluated as abnormal. On certain days before and after farrowing, significant differences between free and tethered gilts existed for nest-building behaviour, comfort behaviour and maternal attention.Results indicate that large and persistent individual differences exist in activity levels between gilts. It is proposed that the observed large individual differences for Group 2 behaviours in tethered gilts may indicate that in the same housing conditions, some animals suffer more than others.