Register      Login
Animal Production Science Animal Production Science Society
Food, fibre and pharmaceuticals from animals
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Acoustic-reward learning as a method to reduce the incidence of aggressive and abnormal behaviours among newly mixed piglets

G. Ismayilova A D , L. Sonoda B , M. Fels B , R. Rizzi A , M. Oczak C , S. Viazzi C , E. Vranken C , J. Hartung B , D. Berckmans C and M. Guarino A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133, Milan, Italy.

B University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation, Bünteweg 17 P, D-30559, Hannover, Germany.

C Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001, Leuven, Belgium.

D Corresponding author. Email: gunel.ismayilova@unimi.it

Animal Production Science 54(8) 1084-1090 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN13202
Submitted: 21 May 2013  Accepted: 17 September 2013   Published: 6 November 2013

Abstract

The aim of the study was to test whether aggressive actions among piglets could be redirected by an automatically generated sound signal followed by a sweet food reward. Per round, four litters of 25-day-old piglets (BHZP breed) were trained 5 times per day over 8 days to expect a sweet feed reward from a dog feeder after hearing a specific sound. In total 144 piglets in 14 entire litters were trained in five trials. At the end of the training 71% of the piglets were around the feeder 5 s after the feeder sound. After the training period, the piglets were weaned and mixed in two pens, 12 piglets per pen. During 2 days (3 h/day) after mixing two observers (one per pen) hidden behind a wooden wall activated the feeder when aggressive or abnormal behaviour started. A total of 616 aggressive events and 31 incidences of abnormal behaviour (ear biting) were used for the analysis. The logistic regression showed that the type of behaviour had a significant effect on the piglets’ response to the feeder sound (P < 0.001). The results showed the possibility of interruption of the aggressive behaviours such as head thrust [odds ratio (OR) = 0.43], jump on other (OR = 0.56) or attack with bite (OR = 0.61). Ear biting was very unlikely to continue (OR = 0.55). The risk of continuing elevated aggression level behaviours was doubled in the event of chasing (OR = 2.16) and the risk that fight would continue after the feeder sound was released was 7 times higher (OR = 7.89). Categorical analysis showed a significant effect (<0.001) of the time intervals t ≤ 1 s and 1 s < t ≤ 3 s on interruption of aggression by the feeder sound release. The piglets’ response to the feeder sound differed significantly between the experimental days (P < 0.001). On the second day of mixing, the feeder sound interrupted 74.9% of aggressive events, compared with 33.7% on the first day. The results suggest that acoustic-reward treatment can distract pigs from performing certain aggressive behaviours and ear biting in piglets when properly applied in time.


References

Andersen IL, Bøe KE, Foerevik G, Janczak AM, Bakken M (2000) Behavioural evaluation of methods for assessing fear responses in weaned pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 69, 227–240.
Behavioural evaluation of methods for assessing fear responses in weaned pigs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 10906406PubMed |

Angermeier WF (1994) Grundlagen des operanten Verhaltens. In ‘Operantes lernen’. (Eds WF Angermeier, P Bednorz, SR Hursh) pp. 35–36. (Ernst Reinhard Verlag: München)

Beattie VE, Walker N, Sneddon IA (1995) Effects of environmental enrichment on behaviour and productivity of growing pigs. Animal Welfare (South Mimms, England) 4, 207–220.

Beattie VE, Walker N, Sneddon IA (1996) An investigation of the effect of environmental enrichment and space allowance on the behaviour and production of growing pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 48, 151–158.
An investigation of the effect of environmental enrichment and space allowance on the behaviour and production of growing pigs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Beattie VE, O’Connell NE, Kilpatrick DJ, Moss BW (2000) Influence of environmental enrichment on welfare-related behavioural and physiological parameters in growing pigs. Animal Science 70, 443–450.

Broom DM (2010) Cognitive ability and awareness in domestic animals and decisions about obligations to animals. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 126, 1–11.
Cognitive ability and awareness in domestic animals and decisions about obligations to animals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Christison GI (1996) Dim light does not reduce fighting or wounding of newly mixed pigs at weaning. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 76, 141–143.
Dim light does not reduce fighting or wounding of newly mixed pigs at weaning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

European Commission (2001) Commission Directive 2001/93/EC of 9 November 2001 amending Directive 91/630/EEC. Available at http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32001L0093:en:NOT [Verified 15 October 2013]

Csermely D, Wood-Gush DGM (1990) Agonistic behaviour in grouped sows. II. How social rank affects feeding and drinking behaviour. Bollettino di Zoologia 57, 55–58.
Agonistic behaviour in grouped sows. II. How social rank affects feeding and drinking behaviour.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Durrell JL, Sneddon IA, Beattie VE (1997) Effects of enrichment and floor type on behaviour of cubicle housed sows. Animal Welfare (South Mimms, England) 6, 297–308.

EFSA (2007) Scientific report on the risks associated with tail biting in pigs and possible means to reduce the need for tail docking considering the different housing and husbandry systems. Annex to the EFSA Journal 611, 1–13.

Erhard HW, Mendl M, Ashley DD (1997) Individual aggressiveness of pigs can be measured and used to reduce aggression after mixing. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 54, 137–151.
Individual aggressiveness of pigs can be measured and used to reduce aggression after mixing.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ernst K, Puppe B, Schön PC, Manteuffe G (2005) A complex automatic feeding system for pigs aimed to induce successful behavioural coping by cognitive adaptation. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 91, 205–218.
A complex automatic feeding system for pigs aimed to induce successful behavioural coping by cognitive adaptation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ernst K, Tuchscherer M, Kanitz E, Puppe B, Manteuffel G (2006) Effects of attention and rewarded activity on immune parameters and wound healing in pigs. Physiology & Behavior 89, 448–456.
Effects of attention and rewarded activity on immune parameters and wound healing in pigs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XhtVanur7L&md5=7b19ad72ed7d41b1a95ee4c0e6c297bcCAS |

Gonyou HW, Rohde Parfet KA, Anderson DB, Olsson RD (1988) Effects of Amperozide and Azaperone on aggression and productivity of growing-finishing pigs. Journal of Animal Science 66, 2856–2864.

Held S, Baumgartner J, Kilbride A, Byrne RW, Mendl M (2005) Foraging behaviour in domestic pigs (Sus scrofa): remembering and prioritizing food sites of different value. Animal Cognition 8, 114–121.
Foraging behaviour in domestic pigs (Sus scrofa): remembering and prioritizing food sites of different value.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD2M3jsVOgug%3D%3D&md5=8161fa33fb4fc18aa10affcacde88f2fCAS | 15871038PubMed |

Hosmer DW, Lemeshow S (1989) ‘Applied logistic regression.’ (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New York)

Huntingford FA, Turner AK (1987) ‘Animal conflict.’ (Chapman and Hall: London) 448 pp.

Jansen J, Bolhuis JE, Schouten WG, Spruijt BM, Wiegant VM (2009) Spatial learning in pigs: effects of environmental enrichment and individual characteristics on behaviour and performance. Animal Cognition 12, 303–315.
Spatial learning in pigs: effects of environmental enrichment and individual characteristics on behaviour and performance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18795350PubMed |

Kleinbaum DG, Kuper LL, Morgenstern H (1982) ‘Epidemiologic research, principles and quantitative methods.’ (Van Nostrand Reinhold Company Inc.: New York) 314 pp.

Lehner PN (1996) ‘Handbook of ethological methods.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge)

Marchant-Forde JN (2010) Social behaviour in swine and its impact on welfare. In ‘Proceedings of the 21st International Pig Veterinary Society (IPVS) congress’. (Eds S D’Allaire, R Friendship) pp. 36–39. (Advance Group Conference Management Inc: Vancouver, Canada)

Martin E (1968) Stimulus meaningfulness and paired-associate transfer: an encoding variability hypothesis. Psychological Review 75, 421–441.
Stimulus meaningfulness and paired-associate transfer: an encoding variability hypothesis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaF1M%2FhsF2jsw%3D%3D&md5=1b9322d9ec1ebd3ff88dc81e50c9e734CAS | 4879426PubMed |

Martin E (1971) Stimulus component independence. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior 10, 715–721.
Stimulus component independence.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

McGlone JJ (1985) A quantitative ethogram of aggressive and submissive behaviours in recently regrouped pigs. Journal of Animal Science 61, 559–565.

McLean AN (2001) Cognitive abilities – the result of selective pressures on food acquisition. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 71, 241–258.
Cognitive abilities – the result of selective pressures on food acquisition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 11230904PubMed |

Meunier-Salaun MC, Edwards SA, Robert S (2001) Effect of dietary fibre on the behaviour and health of the restricted fed sow. Animal Feed Science and Technology 90, 53–69.
Effect of dietary fibre on the behaviour and health of the restricted fed sow.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Moinard C, Mendl M, Nicol CJ, Green LE (2003) A case control study of on-farm risk factors for tail biting in pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 81, 333–355.
A case control study of on-farm risk factors for tail biting in pigs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Morrison RS, Hemsworth PH, Campbell RG, Cronin GM (2003) The social and feeding behaviour of growing pigs in deep-litter, group housing systems. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 82, 173–188.
The social and feeding behaviour of growing pigs in deep-litter, group housing systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Moustgaard A, Arnfred SM, Lind NM, Hansen AK, Hemmingsen R (2004) Discriminations, reversals, and extradimensional shifts in the Gottingen minipig. Behavioural Processes 67, 27–37.
Discriminations, reversals, and extradimensional shifts in the Gottingen minipig.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15182923PubMed |

O’Connell NE, Beattie VE (1999) Influence of environmental enrichment on aggressive behaviour and dominance relationships in growing pigs. Animal Welfare (South Mimms, England) 8, 269–279.

Olesen LS, Nygaard CM, Friend TH, Bushong D, Knabe DA, Vestergaard KS, Vaughan RK (1996) Effect of partitioning pens on aggressive behavior of pigs regrouped at weaning. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 46, 167–174.
Effect of partitioning pens on aggressive behavior of pigs regrouped at weaning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pascoe PJ (1986) The effect of Azaperone on the agonistic behaviour of boars: a pilot study. The Canadian Veterinary Journal. La Revue Veterinaire Canadienne 27, 272–277.

Pavlov IP (1927) ‘Conditioned reflexes.’ (Oxford University Press: London)

Petersen V, Simonsen HB, Lawson LG (1995) The effect of environmental stimulation on the development of behaviour of pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 45, 215–224.
The effect of environmental stimulation on the development of behaviour of pigs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Puppe B, Ernst K, Schön PC, Manteuffel G (2007) Cognitive enrichment affects behavioural reactivity in domestic pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 105, 75–86.
Cognitive enrichment affects behavioural reactivity in domestic pigs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Richardson J (1971) Cue effectiveness and abstraction in paired-associate learning. Psychological Bulletin 75, 73–91.
Cue effectiveness and abstraction in paired-associate learning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

SAS (2008) ‘SAS/STAT user’s guide: statistics. Version 9.2.’ (SAS Inst. Inc.: Cary, NC)

Schaefer AL, Salomons MO, Tong AKW, Sather AP, Lepage P (1990) The effect of environmental enrichment on aggression in newly weaned pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 27, 41–52.
The effect of environmental enrichment on aggression in newly weaned pigs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Schrøder-Petersen DL, Simonsen HB (2001) Tail biting in pigs. Veterinary Journal (London, England) 162, 196–210.
Tail biting in pigs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Simonsen HB (1990) Behaviour and distribution of fattening pigs in the multi-activity pen. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 27, 311–324.
Behaviour and distribution of fattening pigs in the multi-activity pen.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sneddon IA, Beattie VE, Dunne L, Neil W (2000) The effect of environmental enrichment on learning in pigs. Animal Welfare (South Mimms, England) 9, 373–383.

Spoolder HAM, Edwards SA, Corning S (2000) Aggression among finishing pigs following mixing in kennelled and unkennelled accommodation. Livestock Production Science 63, 121–129.
Aggression among finishing pigs following mixing in kennelled and unkennelled accommodation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Stukenborg A, Traulsen I, Puppe B, Presuhn U, Krieter J (2011) Agonistic behaviour after mixing in pigs under commercial farm conditions. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 129, 28–35.
Agonistic behaviour after mixing in pigs under commercial farm conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Tan S, Shackleton DM (1990) Effects of mixing unfamiliar individuals and of azaperone on the social behaviour of finishing pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 26, 157–168.
Effects of mixing unfamiliar individuals and of azaperone on the social behaviour of finishing pigs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Taylor NR, Main DC, Mendl M, Edwards SA (2010) Tail-biting: a new perspective. Veterinary Journal (London, England) 186, 137–147.
Tail-biting: a new perspective.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Van de Weerd HA, Docking CM, Day JE, Avery PJ, Edwards SA (2003) A systematic approach towards developing environmental enrichment for pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 84, 101–118.
A systematic approach towards developing environmental enrichment for pigs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Van de Weerd HA, Docking CM, Day JEL, Breuer K, Edwards SA (2006) Effects of species-relevant environmental enrichment on the behaviour and productivity of finishing pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 99, 230–247.
Effects of species-relevant environmental enrichment on the behaviour and productivity of finishing pigs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Viazzi S, Ismayilova G, Sonoda LT, Oczak M, Leroy T, Costa A, Bahr C, Guarino M, Fels M, Hartung J, van den Berg G, Vranken E, Berckmans D (2011) Labelling of video images: the first step to develop an automatic monitoring tool of pig aggression. In ‘Proceedings of the 15th ISAH congress, Vienna, Austria. Vol. 2’. (Eds J Köfer, H Schobesberger) pp. 751–754. (ISAH: Vienna)

Weng RC, Edwards SA, English PR (1998) Behaviour, social interactions and lesion scores of group-housed sows in relation to floor space allowance. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 59, 307–316.
Behaviour, social interactions and lesion scores of group-housed sows in relation to floor space allowance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |