Science of Ethology Volume 1, Issue 5

One of the greatest objections to group housing of sows is the fear of aggression among the animals. The vast majority of aggression in groups of sows occurs either at the time of re-grouping, or during the daily feeding. Re-grouping aggression may be intense, but is generally short-lived and contributes to acute stress. Feeding aggression is repeated daily and can be considered a chronic source of tension and stress within the group. The issue of feeding aggression has previously been addressed in our discussion of feeding systems. In this article we will examine re-grouping aggression and its impact on management and productivity.