A note on the rôle of behaviour in pig production and the effect of amperozide on growth performance

Abstract

As a result of more intensive rearing and specialization in modern production, pigs are often moved to a new location. In addition, mixing of previously unacquainted pigs usually occurs following transportation to new facilities. Mixing of pigs results in agonistic behaviour (Ewbank, 1976) eliciting social stress (Arnone and Dantzer, 1980) that may produce gastro-intestinal disturbances which adversely affect pig performance.