The associations between eight behavioural indicators of ''stress'' (d
efined in a very general sense) and the occurrence of different stomac
h lesions were investigated in a cohort study, including 266 pigs from
two commercial farms. Behavioural recordings were made in the fourth
week after weaning, and the stomachs were examined after slaughter at
a liveweight of approximately 95 kg. Using logistic regression, weak a
ssociations were found between the frequency of four combinations of r
edirected oral behaviour patterns and the risk of acute ulcers in the
fundus region of the stomach. Based on results from other studies in p
igs and humans, these associations could reflect biological associatio
ns. Associations were also demonstrated between behaviour and keratini
sation of the epithelial layer of the pars oesophagea, but the associa
tions differed between the two herds.