Preventing social stress in grower-finisher pigs
Pigs are social animals and interactions between individual animals are important to their well-being. Keeping pigs in individual cages is not allowed in many places around the world for that reason. However, pigs need to live in optimal housing conditions to avoid problems that may arise from these interactions. Overcrowding, as well as sub-optimal airflow or insufficient feed and water, are common causes of social stress. Grower-finisher pigs who experience discomfort of any type will start to act out with each other, resulting in negative consequences such as cannibalism or feed avoidance.
How to recognise
Social stress can be recognised via aggression or results of aggression, such as wounds or failing to visit feeding stations sufficiently.
The impact on the farmer
The negative impact of high levels of social stress in the barn can be seen in lower production, less efficient use of feed and increased incidence of disease.
Sound management of a pig’s housing, climate, feed and water is critical to preventing the animal’s stress and keeping them as comfortable as possible.