Maladaptive behavioural patterns of early weaned, indoor raised pigs

The objective of the present study was to investigate the growth rate and maladaptive behaviour of early (day 14 of lactation) or late (day 28 of lactation) weaned pigs of either sex kept under different light intensities. Maladaptive behaviour was diagnosed when piglets were kept under a high light intensity but not when kept under a low light intensity. The time, spent engaged in maladaptive behaviour was not higher for barrows than for gilts. Lesions on 'recipient' animals were more severe in larger pigs with a greater rate of weight gain than in smaller ones. 'Perpetrator' pigs grew more slowly during the 46 days after weaning (P = 0.0013) than the non-preparator-pigs. 'Recipient' animals were significantly heavier and had higher rates of weight gain (P = 0.0003) than the 'perpetrator' pigs.