Housing pigs in mixed sexed groups at finishing could reduce aggressive behaviour

Housing pigs in mixed sexed groups at finishing could reduce aggressive behaviour, according to Sabine Conte, Queens University, Belfast.

Speaking at the British Society of Animal Science Conference, Belfast, she said; “When looking at single sex male groups compared to mixed sexed groups with high or low within-group weight variation , we found housing entire male pigs in all-male groups led to an increase in injuries when weight variation within the group was low.

“Reducing weight variation within groups at the start of the finishing period also lead to reduced variation in slaughter and carcass weight,” she said.

All male groups also had high levels of mounting, which Ms Conte suggested could have a negative impact on welfare. “This suggests entire male pigs should be housed in mixed sexed groups. Also to reduce variability in the final product housing pigs with similar weights together could help,” she added.