Can we predict the behavior of the sows and their role as mothers? During the first weeks of life, piglets depend on maternal care.

In pig farming, two very important efficiency parameters are the number of piglets weaned and the weaning weight of the piglets. Both parameters are related to the maternal care received by the mother. With this in mind: Can we predict the behavior of the sows? And what role does this play in their maternal capabilities?

Within the different stages of production, the lactation stage is the most vulnerable for the piglet. A considerable percentage of piglet mortality can occur during lactation, with maternal crushing being one of the main causes of death. Significant evidence indicates that piglet crushing is related to individual differences in the behavior of the sow. On the one hand, some sows respond to the alarm squeals of their piglets and rise in response to the vocalization of trapped offspring, while other sows do not react. In addition, in intensive systems where moving away from the young is not possible, sows limit suckling by standing, sitting, or lying ventrally, which increases the frequency of risky situations for the piglets.

What do we know about the behavior of the sows?

Behavior is the expression of the interaction between the following factors: motivation, innate behavior patterns, psychology, learning based on previous experiences and context or circumstances. The peculiarities in the behavior of the sows can be modified by the environment in which they grow and develop. These previous experiences of each sow have an important bearing on her subsequent behavior. On the other hand, these particularities in the behavior of the sows also depend on genetics.

What factors do we know that affect behavior?

The body condition of the sows at the beginning and end of the lactation stage is of utmost importance, since sows with low body reserves tend to make greater use of inappropriate behaviors to limit suckling and thus preserve their reproductive future. For example, sows may engage in non-nutritive suckling, whereby the sow decreases the frequency of milk ejection. Another way to limit suckling by sows housed in crates, where they cannot move away from the young after 48 hours postpartum, is by standing, sitting, and/or lying down ventrally.

The behavior of the sows is also affected by environmental factors such as the location of the cage within the farrowing room. Another group of factors is those related to auditory or olfactory stimuli that people do not detect since pigs have different sensory capabilities. Finally, the behavior of the sows is influenced by reproductive aspects such as the lactation stage (age of their offspring), the number of parturitions, and the experiences they have had on the farm.

Is there a relationship between behavior and productivity?

Currently, we know that there is a correlation between the behavior of the sows and the productive parameters they achieve. For example, a highly aggressive sow that is more reactive to management routines will have lower total piglets born, and in turn higher piglet survival rate.

You might also be interested in: Feeding of hyperprolific sows

In the first weeks of life: Can future behavior be conditioned?

Early life experiences can have long-term effects on the future behavior of the sows. On the one hand, the social structure of the litters from which the sows originate influences their reproductive performance. On the other hand, the behavior of a future breeding sow can be influenced by the quality or quantity of maternal care received during her breeding period. Because of this, it is observed that offspring learn different behaviors and behaviors by imitating their mothers.

On farms, during the lactation stage or maternity stage, during the first 24 hours postpartum and after the piglets have consumed colostrum, a practice called cross-adoption is carried out. In this practice, the weight of the piglets is considered, and they are distributed in equal amounts to equalize the litters of the different sows that gave birth. It should be in this period, due to the stamping or imprinting between mother and calf, in which the recognition between pig and piglets is made, which will be permanent.

Does the mother’s behavior vary according to the age of the piglets?

The so-called “mother-pliget conflict” is the moment when the requirements of the piglets begin to cease to be a priority for the parents. From this point on, the breeders focus their energy and willingness to produce new offspring. For example, if a sow produces exuberant amounts of milk, her reproductive future may be compromised as the wean-to-estrus interval lengthens. For this reason, the lactation stage is terminated by the sow in the first week in 30-50% of cases. However, between the third and fourth week of lactation, the sow terminates lactation in almost all cases.

You might also be interested in: Use of intestinal conditioner pronutrients in newborn piglets

Is the impact of genetics on behavior known?

In swine, the differences in the behavior of the sows among various breeds are well recognized. There are behavioral differences in the social reactivity of Meishan sows compared to Yorkshire and Landrace hybrids. In addition, it is known that part of the observed variations in behavior is due to differences in the genetic makeup of the animals. Thus, the effect of the genes of the parents has a profound impact on the development of the “personality” of the piglets.

Conclusion

Currently, along with environmental and management studies and research, studies of the behavior of the sows (ethology) are also important to improve the productive efficiency of pigs. The knowledge of ethological patterns is a relevant step for the application of Animal Welfare measures, which will allow to improve management and achieve higher reproductive efficiency, and therefore higher profitability of the farm.

The increased interest in this topic creates opportunities for veterinarians to take a new position in scientific and technological aspects, a new social and educational role to improve the lives of animals. At the same time, animal care personnel must be familiar with the specific behavior of swine.

A variety of environmental elements, as well as aspects of the behavior of the sows, must now be considered. These criteria provide the basis for sow selection and breeding. In addition, they make it possible to predict, before the first farrowing, their temperamental profile, and its effect on the piglets. These observations allow obtaining benefits at the productive level in swine production.

Finally, it is recommended that the sows destined for replacement should be raised by their mothers, to allow correct learning during breeding. With the study of the behavior of the sows, the movement restrictions that the animals have in intensive confined farms can be reduced.