Illness can result in compromised welfare and altered needs for the sick nonhuman
animal. This research was done to determine alterations in the daily routine
of groups of young pigs containing an infected individual. Twelve groups of
5 Landrace/Yorkshire weaned pigs (n D 60 pigs) were housed in separate biosecure
rooms. One animal was randomly selected from each group as the seeder
animal and given 10e7–10e8 colony forming units of Salmonella Typhimurium
orally on Day 0. Pens were videorecorded during daytime hours and 5-min scan
samples were used to assess behavior from Day 􀀀1 to Day C6 of the trial.
Observers were able to identify pigs by individual markings and were blind to
treatment. Mixed model analyses with repeated measures statements to account
for correlation were constructed.
The amount of time spent performing various activities, such as lying, standing,
and moving, did not differ between seeder animals and their penmates (p >
.05). There was a significant day effect, with lying decreasing and standing
increasing by day as the trial progressed (p < .0001). The amount of time spent
at the feeder was not significantly different between seeders and their penmates (p > .05); however, the amount of time at the feeder increased in all animals
by day until Day C5 of the trial (p < .0001).
In conclusion, in these small groups of young swine in a stable social
hierarchy, the amount of time spent performing various activities did not appear
to alter with a low dose of Salmonella. The welfare of these animals may not
be compromised during nonsevere Salmonella infection.