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Gilts prefer an open pen to a stall
Thomas Ede1, Mia Ceribelli2, Thomas D Parsons2
1Swine Teaching and Research Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA, USA. tede@vet.upenn.edu.
Scientific Reports
|April 27, 2024
Summary
Most gilts prefer open areas over crates when given a choice, though some develop a preference for stalls over time. Personality and time of day also influence housing choices in pigs.
Area of Science:
- Animal Welfare Science
- Ethology
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Crate and stall housing are common in pig farming, restricting movement.
- The impact of confinement on pig affective states is under-researched.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gilt preference between individual stalls and a shared open area.
- To explore the influence of personality, time of day, and acclimatization on housing preference.
Main Methods:
- A 7-day preference test was conducted with gilts having free access to stalls and an open area.
- Personality traits were assessed using open field (OF) and novel object (NO) tests.
- Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified 'Passivity' and 'Engagement' as key personality components.
Main Results:
- The majority of gilts (21/29) significantly preferred the open area (95.2% of time spent outside crates).
- Higher 'Engagement' personality was linked to less open area use.
- Gilts spent less time in the open area at night and as the experiment progressed, with a growing preference for stalls over time.
Conclusions:
- While most gilts prefer open housing, a subpopulation develops a preference for stalls.
- Both intrinsic (personality) and extrinsic (time, acclimatization) factors shape gilt housing preferences.
- Providing choice is crucial for accommodating diverse gilt needs in farming.
