IMPLICATIONS OF INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIORAL-CHARACTERISTICS ON PERFORMANCE IN PIGS

At a commercial farm we investigated how profitable it is to compose groups of pigs based on individual behavioural characteristics. In two successive backtests each of 206 piglets were individually restrained in a supine position, and classified as resistant (R; n = 86), as non-resistant (NR; n = 94) or as doubtful (D; n = 26). At nine weeks of age, pigs were grouped into pens with only R pigs, pens with only NR pigs, and pens with both R and NR. Agonistic behaviour recorded just after mixing was significantly highest in R pens. The daily weight gain was higher of the pigs in the R/NR pens compared to the pigs in the other pens. Carcass weight (P < 0.05) and meat% (P < 0.10) was higher, and also carcass classification was better (P < 0.05) of the pigs in R/NR pens compared to the pigs in the other pens. This resulted in a higher payment of approximately 10 Dutch Florins (f) per pig of the R/NR pens. Less pigs in the R/NR pens had pleurisy than pigs in the other pens. While the number of pigs with stomach wall damage was highest for pigs in the NR pens. The present study suggests that a better and more profitable group composition of pigs in intensive husbandry can be realized when based on the behavioural characteristics of a pig.