Review: Peer social bonds in farm animals
S Goumon1, S Jowett2, S Khatiwada2
1ETH Zürich, Animal Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Universitätstrasse, 2, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
Animal : an International Journal of Animal Bioscience
|November 18, 2025
Summary
Peer social bonds in farm animals show potential in pigs, cows, and horses, but more research is needed. Current studies lack robust evidence and face methodological challenges, especially in commercial farm settings.
Area of Science:
- Animal behavior and welfare science
- Ethology
- Comparative psychology
Background:
- Peer social bonds, characterized by preference, consistency, stress modulation, and reciprocity, are well-documented in wild animals.
- While farm animal studies increasingly suggest social bonds, robust evidence for peer bonds remains unclear.
- Understanding these bonds is crucial for improving farm animal welfare and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and assess the evidence for peer social bonds in farm animals.
- To evaluate the robustness of existing literature and identify knowledge gaps.
- To provide recommendations for future research methodologies.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of 47 papers on farm animals (cows, pigs, sheep, horses, donkeys, goats, chickens, quails).
- Analysis focused on criteria defining peer social bonds: social preference, consistency, stress modulation, and reciprocity.
- Evaluation of methodological approaches and their limitations in assessing social relationships.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests variations in interaction strength and non-randomness in pigs, cows, and horses, potentially indicating peer bonds.
- Insufficient research exists on other key criteria (consistency, stress modulation, reciprocity) to confirm peer bonds in farm animals.
- Methodological challenges, including housing and husbandry conditions, hinder robust assessment of social bonds.
Conclusions:
- Research on peer social bonds in farm animals is nascent and requires more rigorous investigation.
- Current methodologies are often inadequate for drawing firm conclusions about peer social bonds.
- Addressing methodological gaps is essential for advancing our understanding and improving farm animal welfare practices.
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