ICDSUPL3-A001

Volume: 3, 2024
3^rd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT

Abstract number: A001

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL3.A001

Published online: 24 April 2024

ICDSUPL, 3, A001 (2024)

Preference of tactile contacts in pigs. Pigs prefer scratching over stroking

Marietta Amann¹*, Susanne Waiblinger¹, Stephanie Lürzel^{1, 2}

¹ Centre for Animal Nutrition and Animal Welfare, Clinical Department for Farm Animals and Food System Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria

² Division of Livestock Sciences, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, 1180, Vienna, Austria

^{* Corresponding author: marietta.amann@vetmeduni.ac.at}

Abstract

To improve the human-animal relationship and reduce stress in pigs, tactile contacts like scratching, stroking, or rubbing have been used, presumably inducing positive emotions. To apply the tactile interactions that are most efficient at eliciting positive emotions, it would be beneficial to know pigs’ preferences. In previous studies, scratching and stroking were provided, both resembling behaviours from the behavioural repertoire of pigs. We examined if pigs prefer scratching or stroking in a choice test. Twelve inseminated gilts habituated to human contact were trained to discriminate between two handlers in their home pen. One handler stroked the pigs, the other one scratched them. The treatments were balanced across pigs for handler. The training phase lasted 5 weeks. Then, the pigs were tested for their preference using the same setup as during the training phase. The pigs’ preference was assessed by measuring the duration of the different types of contact. Overall, the gilts spent nearly twice the time being scratched as being stroked during the tests. There was no significant difference between how often the pigs accessed scratching and stroking. In contrast, the latencies to approach the handler were lower for scratching than for stroking according to descriptive analysis. Previous studies focused on stroking or on a combination of stroking and other types of tactile contact. According to our findings, it might be more appropriate to apply scratching rather than stroking to build positive relationships with pigs. However, six individuals spent more time being stroked than scratched on at least one of the test days. Thus, some pigs might prefer stroking and some pigs might not always prefer the same type of contact. Therefore, a combination of scratching and stroking might be optimal. Generally, pigs preferred scratching over stroking. However, some pigs might prefer stroking and for some pigs their preference might vary from day to day. An optimal solution might be to provide a combination of both scratching and stroking to pigs, and to adjust the type of contact to their reaction.

Keywords: human-animal relationship, interaction, positive, emotion, welfare

How to cite

M. Amann, S. Waiblinger, S. Lürzel, 2024. Preference of tactile contacts in pigs. Pigs prefer scratching over stroking. In: 3rd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL3.A001