Project Number: 3602-32000-009-03
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: Oct 22, 2007
End Date: Jul 31, 2009

Objective:
The objectives of this project are: 1) To determine the sequence of display and aggressive behaviors that result in two unacquainted pigs engaging in a two-sided fight. 2) To determine the sequence of display and aggressive behaviors that result in two unacquainted pigs not engaging in a two-sided fight. 3) To identify critical differences between these sequences, particularly individual behaviors or sub-sequences of behaviors that predict whether interactions will escalate into a two-sided fight, that could be manipulated in order to reduce fighting. ARS personnel will carry out all research data collection.

Approach:
Project will be carried out in two parts - the first part to increase our understanding of the aggressive process when two sows are mixed in space-limited and space-unlimited conditions, and the second part to increase our understanding of the aggressive process when two groups of three sows are mixed in space-limited and space-unlimited conditions.