IMPLICATIONS OF INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIORAL-CHARACTERISTICS ON PERFORMANCE IN PIGS

At a commercial farm we investigated how profitable it is to compose g roups of pigs based on individual behavioural characteristics. In two successive backtests each of 206 piglets were individually restrained in a supine position, and classified as resistant (R; n = 86), as non- resistant (NR; n = 94) or as doubtful (D; n = 26). At nine weeks of ag e, pigs were grouped into pens with only R pigs, pens with only NR pig s, and pens with both R and NR. Agonistic behaviour recorded just afte r mixing was significantly highest in R pens. The daily weight gain wa s higher of the pigs in the R/NR pens compared to the pigs in the othe r pens. Carcass weight (P < 0.05) and meat% (P < 0.10) was higher, and also carcass classification was better (P < 0.05) of the pigs in R/NR pens compared to the pigs in the other pens. This resulted in a highe r payment of approximately 10 Dutch Florins (f) per pig of the R/NR pe ns. Less pigs in the R/NR pens had pleurisy than pigs in the other pen s. While the number of pigs with stomach wall damage was highest for p igs in the NR pens. The present study suggests that a better and more profitable group composition of pigs in intensive husbandry can be rea lized when based on the behavioural characteristics of a pig.