Conference paper

PHYSIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION OF GROWING PIGS UNDER DIFFERENT SOCIAL CONDITIONS

W. Otten ; Research Institute for Biology of Farm Animals; Division of Physiology of Animal Keeping,Dummerstorf, Germany
B. Stabenow ; Research Institute for Biology of Farm Animals; Division of Physiology of Animal Keeping,Dummerstorf, Germany
P.C. Schön ; Research Institute for Biology of Farm Animals; Division of Physiology of Animal Keeping,Dummerstorf, Germany
B. Puppe ; Research Institute for Biology of Farm Animals; Division of Physiology of Animal Keeping,Dummerstorf, Germany
E. Kanitz ; Research Institute for Biology of Farm Animals; Division of Physiology of Animal Keeping,Dummerstorf, Germany

Abstract

The social confrontation of a young growing pig with a comparable group immediately leads to very frequent agonistic interactions during the first 30 minutes accompanied with a rapid increase of heart rate and catecholamine concentrations and a delayed increase of cortisol concentrations. Confrontation of the animal with an unfamiliar group results in more agonistic interactions and a higher adrenocortical reaction compared to the confrontation with the familiar group. High rank animals have more agonistic interactions during the first 30 minutes, accompanied with higher heart rates and a higher adrenocortical reaction but show the ability to cope with the new situation after a short period. Further research is necessary to evaluate the existence of different adaptation strategies in pigs and the involvement in the observed physiological and behavioural reactions.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

164567

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/164567

Publication date:

20.1.1997.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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