The goal of this study was to assess the ability of newly weaned female piglets to recognise familiar non-related
conspecifics and to examine how this was affected by weaning age and/or acute social isolation. It was found that neither weaning age nor social isolation affected the duration of social investigation in piglets exposed to unfamiliar conspecifics. However, when piglets weaned at day 11 were exposed to familiar conspecifics they investigated more than non-isolated pigs weaned on day 11, isolated piglets weaned on day 22 and non isolated pigs weaned at day 22. In conclusion, it may indicate that social recognition can be disrupted by 15 min of social isolation in piglets weaned on Day 11, but not in piglets weaned at Day 22.

For more information the full article can be found at http://journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/applan/issues