The Association Between Play Fighting and Information Gathering during Subsequent Contests

Area of Science:

• Ethology
• Animal Behavior
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Social play is hypothesized to develop later-life skills.
• The connection between play fighting and contest assessment remains under-examined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between play fighting frequency and contest assessment strategy in domestic pigs (Sus scrofa).
• To determine if play fighting experience influences how pigs use self and competitor information (Resource Holding Potential - RHP) in contest decisions.

Main Methods:

• Pigs were categorized as 'high play' or 'low play' based on play fighting frequency.
• Litters received either a socialisation treatment or were kept isolated (control).
• Contests between unfamiliar pigs were staged at eight weeks of age to observe assessment strategies.

Main Results:

• 'High play' pig dyads predominantly used a self-assessment strategy during contests.
• 'Low play' pig dyads' behavior did not fit self- or mutual assessment models, suggesting other motivational factors.
• Play fighting frequency appears to influence the reliance on self-assessment versus other strategies.

Conclusions:

• Early life play fighting in pigs may be crucial for developing accurate self-assessment of Resource Holding Potential (RHP).
• The findings suggest a link between developmental play and the evolution of contest behavior and assessment skills.