Evidence for litter differences in play behaviour in pre-weaned pigs.

Area of Science:

• Animal Behavior
• Developmental Biology
• Animal Welfare Science

Background:

• Spontaneous play is crucial for young animal development.
• Understanding variation in piglet play behavior can offer insights into welfare and growth.
• Previous research has explored factors influencing play, but litter-level analysis in pigs is less common.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze variations in spontaneous play behavior within and between domestic piglet litters.
• To investigate the relationship between play behavior and pre- and postnatal developmental factors.
• To assess the potential of play behavior as an indicator of piglet welfare.

Main Methods:

• Observed and scored spontaneous play behavior in 70 piglets from seven litters over three weeks using an established ethogram.
• Analyzed variance in total and category-specific play behavior at individual and litter levels.
• Correlated play behavior with prenatal (birth weight) and postnatal (growth to weaning) development measures, and sex.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in play behavior were found between litters, accounting for 50% of the variance in total play.
• Higher birth weight and greater postnatal growth were positively associated with increased total and category-specific play.
• Male piglets engaged in more social play and initiated more play bouts than females.

Conclusions:

• Litter and individual differences are key factors influencing piglet play behavior.
• Play behavior in piglets is positively associated with physical development, supporting its use as a welfare indicator.
• Further research into litter-level variations can enhance understanding of factors affecting piglet play and development.