Behavioral Transition Path and Pivotal Nodes Regulating Attack in Initial Encounters between Unfamiliar Pigs

Area of Science:

• Animal Behavior
• Ethology
• Animal Social Dynamics

Background:

• Pigs exhibit curiosity and competitiveness, influencing social interactions.
• Understanding aggression in unfamiliar conspecifics is crucial for animal welfare and management.
• Behavioral transition paths offer insights into social dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate behavioral transition paths and critical nodes governing aggression in unfamiliar pigs.
• To compare behavioral sequences in one-on-one encounters versus group introductions.
• To identify patterns and complexity in pig social interactions.

Main Methods:

• Two experiments were conducted under controlled conditions with unfamiliar pigs.
• Experiment 1: One-on-one fights with rapid retreats.
• Experiment 2: Introduction of new pigs to resident groups, observing a four-step exploratory pattern (looking, sniffing, touching, attacking).

Main Results:

• Experiment 1 showed simple looking-attacking sequences and short behavioral paths.
• Experiment 2 revealed complex, structured sequences with long and short exploratory paths.
• Seven types of behavioral transition paths (4 long, 3 short) were identified in Experiment 2, with more varied aggressive transitions compared to Experiment 1.

Conclusions:

• The complexity of behavioral transition paths increases with group dynamics.
• Aggression in pigs is governed by specific behavioral sequences and transition pathways.
• Findings enhance understanding of social interactions and aggression triggers in pigs.