The study builds on previous research that showed that pigs that fought on first meeting and quickly settled into a large clique were less aggressive in the long-term.

November 11, 2019

2 Min Read
Finishing pigs in a pen
Getty Images News/Scott Olson

Researchers at the Roslin Institute are using social network analysis to gain new insights into how interactions, that occur when pigs are mixed with one another, affect harmful behavior. The scientists say that research into the complex social networks formed by groups of pigs that are housed together will be used to find ways to minimize aggressive interactions.

Scientists aim to characterize structures of social interaction in pig pens that lead to minimal injuries from fighting. By identifying the roles of individuals in relation to one another and how they impact on each other, researchers hope to find a new set of characteristic traits to target for minimizing hostile interactions.

The research team says their results could improve health and welfare for pigs and lead to better productivity for farmers.

"By applying mathematical analyses of social networks to detailed data of individuals' behavior, we hope to gain insights that will inform farming practices to minimize aggression in pig pens," says Roslin professor Andrea Doeschl-Wilson.

The study builds on previous research showing that social interactions that occur within the first 24 hours of pigs being housed together can indicate how relationships are likely to develop over the few weeks that follow.

The insights, published in the journal PLoS One, showed that pigs that fought on first meeting but quickly settled into a large clique were less aggressive in the long-term.

Conversely, pigs that did not interact on first meeting, but later settled into groups of smaller clusters, showed more aggression in the long term.

The research, carried out in collaboration with Scotland's Rural College and Teagasc, has received support from the Teagasc Walsh Fellowship Scheme.

Source: The Roslin Institute, which is solely responsible for the information provided, and wholly owns the information. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

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