PROCEPTIVE AND RECEPTIVE ASPECTS OF ESTRUS BEHAVIOR IN GILTS

Preceptive and receptive aspects of behaviour were studied during the oestrus cycle of the female pig. These aspects were studied in a T-maz e with one or two stimulus compartments that did or did not contain a teaser boar. Receptive behaviour was observed during several consecuti ve days and was quantified in front of the boar by using the back pres sure test (BPT). Three aspects of preceptive behaviour, i.e. the tende ncy to 'search the boar', 'stay close to the boar' and 'to present' in front of the boar peaked in the middle of the receptive period, and i n most gilts on the day preceding the last receptive day (Experiment 1 ). In contrast, preference for a particular boar, another aspect of pr eceptive behaviour, was only expressed during the days preceding and f ollowing the receptive period (Experiment 2). The results are discusse d in terms of the possible functional implications of preceptive and r eceptive behaviour in relation to fertilization.