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Unpublished Paper
Pig Age and Approachability Behavior to a Human Observer
Animal Industry Report
  • Shawna Weimar, Iowa State University
  • Anna K. Johnson, Iowa State University
  • Kenneth J. Stalder, Iowa State University
  • Locke A. Karriker, Iowa State University
  • Thomas Fangman, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc.
Extension Number
ASL R3010
Publication Date
2015
Topic
Swine
Summary and Implications

The objective of this experiment was to determine if nursery pig age affected how many pigs touched and orientated to a human, or were classified as not-orientated during a human-animal interaction test using live human observation and digital image collection methodology. A complete randomized experimental design was utilized in this study where the pen of pigs was the experimental unit. Two methods, a human observer and a digital image, were assigned within rooms to all pens. Three age of pig treatments were compared; 6-weeks (n = 6 pens), 7-weeks (n = 10 pens) and 8-weeks (n = 11 pens). There were no differences for pig age when classified as touch, orientated and not orientated using the digital image (P > 0.05). Using the human method, more 7-week old pigs touched the human (P = 0.02). In conclusion, the digital image can be studied in more detail (on average each digital image was reviewed for 5 minutes) and hence, classifying pigs to these categories could be more accurate, resulting in no age differences for human approach in the pen between 6, 7 and 8 week old nursery pigs.

Copyright Holder
Iowa State University
DOI
https://doi.org/10.31274/ans_air-180814-1327
Language
en
Citation Information
Shawna Weimar, Anna K. Johnson, Kenneth J. Stalder, Locke A. Karriker, et al.. "Pig Age and Approachability Behavior to a Human Observer" (2015)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/kenneth_stalder/155/