Total male pigs are extra energetic than castrated male pigs and their social behaviour could also be dangerous to their pen-mates. Even when the common variety of pores and skin lesions doesn’t differ between castrated and whole males, it’s doable that the distribution of injurious interactions amongst people is completely different and that the welfare of extremely affected people is compromised.
Goal and strategies: Subsequently, utilizing knowledge from 531 ear-tagged total males (39 teams) and 305 castrates (22 teams) from 5 natural farms, we examined whether or not increased commonplace deviations (SD) of pores and skin lesions on the entrance or the rear physique indicated a better focus of injurious interactions on some people in teams of total in comparison with castrated males, and whether or not the proportion of reasonably and severely injured pigs differed. Potential results of house allowance, feminine contact, and weight heterogeneity per group have been additionally thought of. We additional investigated what characterised particular person total or castrated males with a better variety of pores and skin lesions and whether or not extra total than castrated males have been repeatedly injured. Pigs have been weighed initially and finish of fattening, Moreover, they have been scored for pores and skin lesions at round 80 kg and 130 kg reside weight, and after first break up advertising and marketing.
Outcomes: In comparison with castrates, the proportions of reasonably and severely injured pigs per group and the SD of pores and skin lesions have been increased in total males with no direct contact to females, however didn’t differ when total males have been stored subsequent to feminine pigs. Particular person castrated however not total males with a decrease relative reside weight initially of fattening had extra lesions, and castrates with extra lesions additionally had decrease lifetime weight achieve. Collectively this will level to some variations in motivation for agonistic interactions between castrated and uncastrated male pigs. There was a basic mitigating impact of upper house allowances, with a better significance for total males on the person stage. Charges of repeated reasonable or extreme damage at round 80 kg and 130 kg liveweight didn’t differ with 15 % (castrated) and 16 % (uncastrated) injured pigs.
Conclusion: The fattening of total males beneath natural situations can bear a better damage threat for some people, however that this may be prevented by applicable husbandry situations, akin to housing feminine pigs within the neighbouring pen. Generally, increased house allowances assist to cut back destructive penalties of social behaviour.
Jeannette C. Lange, Ute Knierim,
Social behaviour in teams of castrated and uncastrated natural fattening male pigs – penalties for the person,
Utilized Animal Behaviour Science,
Quantity 288,
2025,
106676,
ISSN 0168-1591,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106676
