Table 6 Definition of selected behavioral states and events in sows from 24 h before parturition of the first piglet until 24 h after parturition of the last piglet, based on two studies [4, 41]
From: Postpartum dysgalactia syndrome in sows: effects on behavior of sows and piglets
States | Definitions | Observation technique |
|---|---|---|
Right or left lateral recumbency | Right or left side of the head, right or left scapula and waist touch the floor and the udder is visible [slightly adjusted according to Cui et al. [41]] | Continuously |
Mixed recumbency | Lying with the udder partly exposed where only some parts of the udder are visible | Continuously |
Ventral recumbency | Stomach touches the floor, the front legs are stretched or folded under the body [slightly adjusted according to Cui et al. [41]] | Continuously |
Upright position | Four legs are placed on the floor or moving—without changing the position of the body or leading to a horizontal movement of the body | Continuously |
Sitting | Sitting like a dog, hind quarter and caudal end touching the floor with hind legs folded and front legs erect to support the body weight (slightly adjusted according to Cui et al. [41]) | Continuously |
Events | ||
Head in the trough* | Head (from the ears onward) in the trough. Ends when the sow removes her head from trough | Continuously |
Defecating | Sow defecating | Continuously |
Urination | Sow urinating | Continuously |
Disturbance | A staff member handling the sow in the pen (handling piglets, emptying the trough, etc.) | Continuously |
Restraint | A researcher handling the sow in the pen (sampling, performing clinical examination, feeding sucker, forcing the sow to stand up, etc.) | Continuously—from 10 min. before handling to 10 min. after |
Others | The sow shows other behavioral events than described | Continuously |
Camera | The camera prevents a view of the sow (including power failure) | Continuously |
Nesting | Sitting or standing. Pawing with a foreleg, rubbing their head or rooting or biting with the snout against the farrowing rail | One-zero sampling in 5 min intervals |
Bar biting | Biting with the snout against the farrowing rail due to stereotyped behavior | One-zero sampling in 5 min intervals |
Pig | A piglet is delivered | Continuously |
Placenta | The placenta is delivered | Continuously |
Obstetric aid | A staff member provides obstetric aid (results reported in Kaiser et al. [2]) | Continuously |
Treatment | Injection treatment of sick sows | Continuously |