Nursing synchronisation in lactating sows as affected by activity, distance between the sows and playback of nursing vocalisations

ŠPINKA, Marek, GONYOU, H., LI, Y. a BATE, L.A. Nursing synchronisation in lactating sows as affected by activity, distance between the sows and playback of nursing vocalisations. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 2004, 88, 13-26. ISSN 0168-1591.
Kateg. publikaceVědecké publikace impaktované
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Abstrakt

In this study, the amount of nursing synchronisation was quantified, the dependence of the degree of synchronisation on the spatial distance between sows was examined, and the effect of nursing vocalisation playback on nursing frequency and nursing synchronisation was assessed in a large commercial pig farm. Sows were housed in individual farrowing crates, 14 sows per room. Twelve rooms were assigned to one of four treatments in a 2×2 experimental design, with the factors being AGE of piglets (observations at either 6-10 days or at 13-17 days post partum) and BASS frequencies on the loudspeakers being switched on or off. The third factor (PLAYBACK) was applied in a repeated measures design on the 3 days of observation in each room. Three-min playbacksof sow nursing sounds were played back every 45, or 55 min, or not at all, for a period of 24 h on the 3 days

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