Postural Behavior of Large White Yorkshire Piglets during Preweaning Period Reared on Cement Concrete Floor

Abstract

After farrowing, 24-day-old large white Yorkshire piglets of either sex from 3 L were reared on normal conventional concrete flooring along with their mother till weaning (56 days). The behavioral pattern of piglets was studied at different hours continuously from morning 6 am to evening 6 pm at 60-min intervals daily. The behavioral pattern of piglets was recorded by visual recording from outside the pen without interfering with the natural behavior of the piglets during the study period. It was observed that sleeping was one of the prominent behaviors found throughout the experimental period, which was exhibited maximum during the first fortnight. Lying postural behavior was highest during the fourth fortnight. Standing postural behavior was recorded highest during the third fortnight and it was statistically significant (P < 0.01) from the first, second, and fourth fortnight. Only very few piglets were observed in sitting posture throughout the experimental period. The mean percentage of moving postural behavior was highest in the third fortnight. There was an increasing trend in agonistic behavior as the age advanced. Nose contact and belly contact social behaviors were expressed highest during the fourth fortnight. Tail-biting social behavior was expressed only during the third and fourth fortnight. Ear-biting social behavior was expressed only at the fourth fortnight during the experimental period.