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This study identifies iceberg indicators for welfare assessment in sows and piglets to enhance feasibility and sustainability of available protocols. Indicators of the Welfare Quality® protocol and of a German protocol were collected over 65 farm visits to 13 farms in Germany between September 2016 and April 2018. Data were analysed using partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). A hierarchical component model was built (animal welfare = higher-order, Welfare Quality® principles = lower-order components). In sows, welfare was revealed to be most influenced by the principles good housing, good health and appropriate behaviour (path coefficients = 0.77, 0.86, 0.91). High coefficients of determination R² indicated a large amount of explained variance (good housing R² = 0.59, good health R² = 0.75, appropriate behaviour R² = 0.83). Stereotypies was the indicator most valuable to assess sow welfare. Additionally, the final model included the indicators panting, shoulder sores, metritis, mortality and an indicator assessing stereotypies in resting animals (indicator reliabilities 0.54–0.88). However, the model did not include the indicators lameness and body condition, which may be due to the farm sample. Welfare of piglets was most explained by the indicators carpal joint lesions, mortality, sneezing and undersized animals (indicator reliabilities 0.48–0.86).
Lena Friedrich; Joachim Krieter; Nicole Kemper; Irena Czycholl. Iceberg Indicators for Sow and Piglet Welfare. Sustainability 2020, 12, 8967 .
AMA StyleLena Friedrich, Joachim Krieter, Nicole Kemper, Irena Czycholl. Iceberg Indicators for Sow and Piglet Welfare. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (21):8967.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLena Friedrich; Joachim Krieter; Nicole Kemper; Irena Czycholl. 2020. "Iceberg Indicators for Sow and Piglet Welfare." Sustainability 12, no. 21: 8967.
Sensors delivering information on the position of farm animals have been widely used in precision livestock farming. Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors are already known from applications in military, private and commercial environments, and their application in animal science is increasing. However, as trade-offs between sensor cost, battery life and sensor weight have to be made, GPS based studies scheduling long data collection periods and including a high number of animals, have to deal with problems like high hardware costs and data disruption during recharging of sensors. Furthermore, human–animal interaction due to sensor changing at the end of battery life interferes with the animal behaviour under analysis. The present study thus proposes a setting to deal with these challenges and offers the software tool “HerdGPS-Preprocessor”, because collecting position data from multiple animals nonstop for several weeks produces a high amount of raw data which needs to be sorted, preprocessed and provided in a suitable format per animal and day. The software tool “HerdGPS-Preprocessor” additionally outputs contact lists to enable a straight analysis of animal contacts. The software tool was exemplarily deployed for one month of daily and continuous GPS data of 40 horses in a loose-housing boarding facility in northern Germany. Contact lists were used to generate separate networks for every hour, which are then analysed with regard to the network parameter density, diameter and clique structure. Differences depending on the day and the day time could be observed. More dense networks with more and larger cliques were determined in the hours prior to the opening of additional pasture.
Jennifer Salau; Frederik Hildebrandt; Irena Czycholl; Joachim Krieter. “HerdGPS-Preprocessor”—A Tool to Preprocess Herd Animal GPS Data; Applied to Evaluate Contact Structures in Loose-Housing Horses. Animals 2020, 10, 1932 .
AMA StyleJennifer Salau, Frederik Hildebrandt, Irena Czycholl, Joachim Krieter. “HerdGPS-Preprocessor”—A Tool to Preprocess Herd Animal GPS Data; Applied to Evaluate Contact Structures in Loose-Housing Horses. Animals. 2020; 10 (10):1932.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJennifer Salau; Frederik Hildebrandt; Irena Czycholl; Joachim Krieter. 2020. "“HerdGPS-Preprocessor”—A Tool to Preprocess Herd Animal GPS Data; Applied to Evaluate Contact Structures in Loose-Housing Horses." Animals 10, no. 10: 1932.
This study analyses tail and ear postures of growing pigs in two different housing systems throughout the growing period. On one farm, 168 undocked pigs (84: barren housing, 84: enriched housing) were observed individually at three time periods: beginning, middle and end of the growing period. By scan sampling, the tail (curled-up, raised, hanging, tucked under, wagging) and ear posture (forwards, sidewards, backwards, mixed) was noted. Scans were performed hourly during the activity periods by direct observation. Moreover, the body posture (standing, feeding, lying (eyes open), lying (eyes closed) and tail lesions were noted. Data were analysed using the GLIMMIX procedure in SAS. Results revealed significant differences between the enriched and barren group especially for curled-up tails, tucked under tails and ears directed forwards. More curled-up tails and ears directed forwards occurred in the enriched and more tucked under tails in the barren habitat. The time period of observation also had significant influences. Tail lesions had significant effects on most tail postures. Most ear postures were influenced by the body posture of the pigs. Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of body language, specifically tail and ear postures in pigs.
I. Czycholl; E. Hauschild; K. Büttner; K. Krugmann; O. Burfeind; J. Krieter. Tail and ear postures of growing pigs in two different housing conditions. Behavioural Processes 2020, 176, 104138 .
AMA StyleI. Czycholl, E. Hauschild, K. Büttner, K. Krugmann, O. Burfeind, J. Krieter. Tail and ear postures of growing pigs in two different housing conditions. Behavioural Processes. 2020; 176 ():104138.
Chicago/Turabian StyleI. Czycholl; E. Hauschild; K. Büttner; K. Krugmann; O. Burfeind; J. Krieter. 2020. "Tail and ear postures of growing pigs in two different housing conditions." Behavioural Processes 176, no. : 104138.
Dominance indices are often calculated using the number of won and lost fights of each animal focusing on dyadic interactions. Social network analysis provides new insights into the establishment of stable group structures going beyond the dyadic approach. Thus, it was investigated whether centrality parameters describing the importance of each animal for the network are able to capture the rank order calculated by dominance indices. Therefore, two dominance indices and five centrality parameters based on two network types (initiator-receiver and winner-loser networks) were calculated regarding agonistic interactions observed in three mixing events (weaned piglets, fattening pigs, gilts). Comparing the two network types, the winner-loser networks demonstrated highly positive correlation coefficients between out-degree and outgoing closeness and the dominance indices. These results were confirmed by partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), i.e., about 60% of the variance of the dominance could be explained by the centrality parameters, whereby the winner-loser networks could better illustrate the dominance hierarchy with path coefficients of about 1.1 for all age groups. Thus, centrality parameters can portray the dominance hierarchy providing more detailed insights into group structure which goes beyond the dyadic approach.
Kathrin Büttner; Irena Czycholl; Katharina Mees; Joachim Krieter. Agonistic Interactions in Pigs–Comparison of Dominance Indices with Parameters Derived from Social Network Analysis in Three Age Groups. Animals 2019, 9, 929 .
AMA StyleKathrin Büttner, Irena Czycholl, Katharina Mees, Joachim Krieter. Agonistic Interactions in Pigs–Comparison of Dominance Indices with Parameters Derived from Social Network Analysis in Three Age Groups. Animals. 2019; 9 (11):929.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKathrin Büttner; Irena Czycholl; Katharina Mees; Joachim Krieter. 2019. "Agonistic Interactions in Pigs–Comparison of Dominance Indices with Parameters Derived from Social Network Analysis in Three Age Groups." Animals 9, no. 11: 929.
The present study’s aim was to assess the test−retest reliability (TRR) of the ‘Welfare Quality® animal welfare assessment protocol for sows and piglets’ focusing on the welfare principle ‘appropriate behavior’. TRR was calculated using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (RS), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), smallest detectable change (SDC), and limits of agreement (LoA). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used for deeper analysis of the Qualitative Behavior Assessment (QBA). The study was conducted on thirteen farms in Northern Germany, which were visited five times by the same observer. Farm visits 1 (F1; day 0) were compared to farm visits 2 to 5 (F2–F5). The QBA indicated no TRR when applying the statistical parameters introduced above (e.g., ‘playful‘ (F1–F4) RS 0.08 ICC 0.00 SDC 0.50 LoA [−0.62, 0.38]). The PCA detected contradictory TRR. Acceptable TRR could be found for parts of the instantaneous scan sampling (e.g., negative social behavior (F1–F3) RS 0.45 ICC 0.37 SDC 0.02 LoA [−0.03, 0.02]). The human−animal relationship test solely achieved poor TRR, whereas scans for stereotypies showed sufficient TRR (e.g., floor licking (F1–F4) RS 0.63 ICC 0.52 SDC 0.05 LoA [−0.08, 0.04]). Concluding, the principle ‘appropriate behavior’ does not represent TRR and further investigation is needed before implementation on-farm.
Lena Friedrich; Joachim Krieter; Nicole Kemper; Irena Czycholl. Test−Retest Reliability of the ‘Welfare Quality® Animal Welfare Assessment Protocol for Sows and Piglets’. Part 1. Assessment of the Welfare Principle of ‘Appropriate Behavior’. Animals 2019, 9, 398 .
AMA StyleLena Friedrich, Joachim Krieter, Nicole Kemper, Irena Czycholl. Test−Retest Reliability of the ‘Welfare Quality® Animal Welfare Assessment Protocol for Sows and Piglets’. Part 1. Assessment of the Welfare Principle of ‘Appropriate Behavior’. Animals. 2019; 9 (7):398.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLena Friedrich; Joachim Krieter; Nicole Kemper; Irena Czycholl. 2019. "Test−Retest Reliability of the ‘Welfare Quality® Animal Welfare Assessment Protocol for Sows and Piglets’. Part 1. Assessment of the Welfare Principle of ‘Appropriate Behavior’." Animals 9, no. 7: 398.
Dominance indices are calculated by considering the differences between the number of won and lost fights. Whether these differences show a significant asymmetric outcome or not is neglected. Thus, two calculation methods for the limits of significant dyads are proposed using a sign test based on the differences in won and lost fights, considering all dyadic interactions in the pen (PEN: pen individual limits), and a sign test focusing on each individual dyad (DYAD: dyad individual limits). These were compared to the data set containing all dyadic interactions (ALL). Agonistic interactions in three mixing events were video recorded for two and a half days (weaned piglets) or one and a half days (fattening pigs, gilts). Dominance indices (DI) were calculated for all data sets. Pen/dyad individual limits revealed a small number of significant dyads (weaned piglets: 12.4%/8.8%; fattening pigs: 4.2%/0.6%; gilts: 3.6%/0.4%). Pen individual limits should be selected as they allow adaption of the limits according to the fighting frequency. Spearman rank correlation coefficients of the dominance indices between the data sets were always above 0.7, implying that the rank order remained relatively stable. Information about the impact of significant dyads on sociometric measures is important to prevent misinterpretations about the social structure in animal groups and should be considered in future studies.
Kathrin Büttner; Irena Czycholl; Katharina Mees; Joachim Krieter. Impact of Significant Dyads on Dominance Indices in Pigs. Animals 2019, 9, 344 .
AMA StyleKathrin Büttner, Irena Czycholl, Katharina Mees, Joachim Krieter. Impact of Significant Dyads on Dominance Indices in Pigs. Animals. 2019; 9 (6):344.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKathrin Büttner; Irena Czycholl; Katharina Mees; Joachim Krieter. 2019. "Impact of Significant Dyads on Dominance Indices in Pigs." Animals 9, no. 6: 344.
This study examined whether the human approach test (HAT) or novel object test (NOT), which are considered as suitable tests for assessing the level of fear or anxiety in animals, are suitable to detect a positive affective state in 297 fattening pigs from three different farms. The investigated farms consisted of a barren (farm 1, n = 160) and an enriched (farm 2, n = 106; farm 3, n = 31) husbandry. Each pig was subjected three times to the HAT and NOT during fattening (at the start, middle, and end of fattening). The pigs housed in the barren environment showed quicker approach latencies than the enriched-housed pigs (HAT: farm 1: 7.4 ± 1.1 s vs. farm 2: 57.1 ± 1.1 s, respectively, farm 3: 58.3 ± 1.3 s (end of fattening); NOT: farm 1: 4.5 ± 1.1 s vs. farm 2: 23.0 ± 1.1 s, respectively, farm 3: 9.0 ± 1.2 s (end of fattening)). The same pattern of behavior was observed for the duration of contacts in the HAT but not in the NOT (HAT: farm 1: 83.8 ± 1.1 s vs. farm 2: 6.3 ± 1.1 s, respectively, farm 3: 7.6 ± 1.3 s (end of fattening)). However, due to controversially discussed literature, it is difficult to conclude whether the described differences in the pigs' behavior between the two housing systems might indicate useful indicators to detect their affective state.
Katja Krugmann; Farina Warnken; Joachim Krieter; Irena Czycholl. Are Behavioral Tests Capable of Measuring Positive Affective States in Growing Pigs? Animals 2019, 9, 274 .
AMA StyleKatja Krugmann, Farina Warnken, Joachim Krieter, Irena Czycholl. Are Behavioral Tests Capable of Measuring Positive Affective States in Growing Pigs? Animals. 2019; 9 (5):274.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKatja Krugmann; Farina Warnken; Joachim Krieter; Irena Czycholl. 2019. "Are Behavioral Tests Capable of Measuring Positive Affective States in Growing Pigs?" Animals 9, no. 5: 274.
Objective tools for the assessment of animal welfare are needed. The present study analysed the interobserver reliability of the Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) welfare assessment protocol for horses to further enhance knowledge concerning reliability. Therefore, two trained observers conducted 18 assessments on farm at the same time and on the same animals. The results were compared at individual level by calculation of Cohen’s kappa (κ), weighted kappa (κw) and prevalence-adjusted, bias-adjusted kappa (PABAK). Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (RS), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), limits of agreement (LoA) and smallest detectable change (SDC) were used at farm level. The Qualitative Behaviour Assessment was further analysed by means of principal component analysis. At the individual level, most of the indicators demonstrated acceptable (κ, κw, PABAK ≥ 0.4) to good (κ, κw, PABAK ≥ 0.6) interobserver reliability. Also, at farm level, most of the indicators demonstrated acceptable (RS ≥ 0.4; ICC ≥ 0.4; SDC: ≤ 0.1; LoA ε (0.1; 0.1)) to good (RS: ≥ 0.7; ICC: ≥ 0.7; SDC: ≤ 0.05; LoA: ε (0.05; 0.05)) interobserver reliability. Exceptions were the indicators moderate presence of tension above eye area (score 1) and orbital tightening (score 1) on the Horse Grimace Scale as well as the presence of swollen joints. Furthermore, the present results indicate that the details for the different scores should be improved for some indicators such as the Body Condition Score. In general, this study points out a good interobserver reliability of the AWIN welfare assessment protocol for horses.
Irena Czycholl; Philipp Klingbeil; Joachim Krieter. Interobserver Reliability of the Animal Welfare Indicators Welfare Assessment Protocol for Horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 2019, 75, 112 -121.
AMA StyleIrena Czycholl, Philipp Klingbeil, Joachim Krieter. Interobserver Reliability of the Animal Welfare Indicators Welfare Assessment Protocol for Horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 2019; 75 ():112-121.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIrena Czycholl; Philipp Klingbeil; Joachim Krieter. 2019. "Interobserver Reliability of the Animal Welfare Indicators Welfare Assessment Protocol for Horses." Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 75, no. : 112-121.
Behavioural tests might have the potential to evaluate certain aspects of welfare such as emotional state or the human-animal relationship. However, reliability assessments of these tests are rare. Therefore, in this study, different behavioural tests for growing pigs were assessed regarding their on-farm reliability. Eleven growing pig farms were visited three times each by two experienced observers. The farm visits took place with a time interval of one week in between the first and the second farm visits and a time interval of four weeks in between the first and the third farm visits, i.e. the second and the third farm visits were three weeks apart. During the second farm visit, exactly the same animals were tested while at the third farm visit, other animals were tested. The observers carried out a Novel Object Test (NOT), a Voluntary Human Approach Test (VHAT), a Forced Human Approach Test (FHAT) and a Human-Animal Relationship Test (HART) at group level in the home pen of the pigs. The results of the different farm visits and observers, respectively, were compared by a combination of statistical parameters: Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (RS), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), limits of agreement (LoA) and smallest detectable change (SDC). The interobserver reliability was in general acceptable for all tests (e.g. NOT: RS: 0.50, ICC: 0.56, SDC: 2.47, LoA: -2.49-2.28) to good (e.g. FHAT: RS: 0.98, ICC: 0.98, SDC: 0.23, LoA: -0.22-0.25). The test-retest reliability, on the contrary, was rather insufficient: only in the comparison of the first to the second farm visits did RS and ICC reach values of ≥ 0.40 for the FHAT and HART (for some categories). However, the deviation between the two observers detected by SDC and LoA were above 10%. No reliability was detected for the other two comparisons as well as for all comparisons of the NOT and VHAT, (e.g. VHAT, first to second farm visit: RS: 0.15, ICC: 0.04, SDC: 30.2, LoA: -24.5-38.6). Thus, it can be concluded that interobserver reliability was sufficient, while in the form of these behavioural tests used consistency over time at the moment remains insufficient. Hence, with regard to welfare assessment schemes, this aspect must be taken into account and future work should concentrate on recategorisation, enhancement of knowledge concerning the validity of these tests in different settings as well as possible alternatives. Nevertheless, the good interobserver reliability points out a potential usefulness of these tests for other purposes i.e. whether the animals need to be tested only once throughout their lives.
Irena Czycholl; Stina Menke; Carolin Straßburg; Joachim Krieter. Reliability of different behavioural tests for growing pigs on-farm. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2019, 213, 65 -73.
AMA StyleIrena Czycholl, Stina Menke, Carolin Straßburg, Joachim Krieter. Reliability of different behavioural tests for growing pigs on-farm. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2019; 213 ():65-73.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIrena Czycholl; Stina Menke; Carolin Straßburg; Joachim Krieter. 2019. "Reliability of different behavioural tests for growing pigs on-farm." Applied Animal Behaviour Science 213, no. : 65-73.
To enhance feasibility, the Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) assessment protocol for horses consists of two levels: the first is a visual inspection of a sample of horses performed from a distance, the second a close-up inspection of all horses. The aim was to analyse whether information would be lost if only the first level were performed. In this study, 112 first and 112 second level assessments carried out on a subsequent day by one observer were compared by calculating the Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient (RS), Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC), Smallest Detectable Changes (SDC) and Limits of Agreements (LoA). Most indicators demonstrated sufficient reliability between the two levels. Exceptions were the Horse Grimace Scale, the Avoidance Distance Test and the Voluntary Human Approach Test (e.g., Voluntary Human Approach Test: RS: 0.38, ICC: 0.38, SDC: 0.21, LoA: −0.25–0.17), which could, however, be also interpreted as a lack of test-retest reliability. Further disagreement was found for the indicator consistency of manure (RS: 0.31, ICC: 0.38, SDC: 0.36, LoA: −0.38–0.36). For these indicators, an adaptation of the first level would be beneficial. Overall, in this study, the division into two levels was reliable and might therewith have the potential to enhance feasibility in other welfare assessment schemes.
Irena Czycholl; Kathrin Büttner; Philipp Klingbeil; Joachim Krieter. An Indication of Reliability of the Two-Level Approach of the AWIN Welfare Assessment Protocol for Horses. Animals 2018, 8, 7 .
AMA StyleIrena Czycholl, Kathrin Büttner, Philipp Klingbeil, Joachim Krieter. An Indication of Reliability of the Two-Level Approach of the AWIN Welfare Assessment Protocol for Horses. Animals. 2018; 8 (1):7.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIrena Czycholl; Kathrin Büttner; Philipp Klingbeil; Joachim Krieter. 2018. "An Indication of Reliability of the Two-Level Approach of the AWIN Welfare Assessment Protocol for Horses." Animals 8, no. 1: 7.
I. Czycholl; E. Grosse Beilage; C. Henning; J. Krieter. Reliability of the qualitative behavior assessment as included in the Welfare Quality Assessment protocol for growing pigs1. Journal of Animal Science 2017, 95, 3445 -3454.
AMA StyleI. Czycholl, E. Grosse Beilage, C. Henning, J. Krieter. Reliability of the qualitative behavior assessment as included in the Welfare Quality Assessment protocol for growing pigs1. Journal of Animal Science. 2017; 95 (8):3445-3454.
Chicago/Turabian StyleI. Czycholl; E. Grosse Beilage; C. Henning; J. Krieter. 2017. "Reliability of the qualitative behavior assessment as included in the Welfare Quality Assessment protocol for growing pigs1." Journal of Animal Science 95, no. 8: 3445-3454.
I. Czycholl; E. Grosse Beilage; C. Henning; J. Krieter. Reliability of the qualitative behavior assessment as included in the Welfare Quality Assessment protocol for growing pigs. Journal of Animal Science 2017, 95, 3445 .
AMA StyleI. Czycholl, E. Grosse Beilage, C. Henning, J. Krieter. Reliability of the qualitative behavior assessment as included in the Welfare Quality Assessment protocol for growing pigs. Journal of Animal Science. 2017; 95 (8):3445.
Chicago/Turabian StyleI. Czycholl; E. Grosse Beilage; C. Henning; J. Krieter. 2017. "Reliability of the qualitative behavior assessment as included in the Welfare Quality Assessment protocol for growing pigs." Journal of Animal Science 95, no. 8: 3445.
The present paper focuses on evaluating the interobserver reliability of the ‘Welfare Quality® Animal Welfare Assessment Protocol for Growing Pigs’. The protocol for growing pigs mainly consists of a Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA), direct behaviour observations (BO) carried out by instantaneous scan sampling and checks for different individual parameters (IP), e.g. presence of tail biting, wounds and bursitis. Three trained observers collected the data by performing 29 combined assessments, which were done at the same time and on the same animals; but they were carried out completely independent of each other. The findings were compared by the calculation of Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficients (RS), Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC), Smallest Detectable Changes (SDC) and Limits of Agreements (LoA). There was no agreement found concerning the adjectives belonging to the QBA (e.g. active: RS: 0.50, ICC: 0.30, SDC: 0.38, LoA: −0.05 to 0.45; fearful: RS: 0.06, ICC: 0.0, SDC: 0.26, LoA: −0.20 to 0.30). In contrast, the BO showed good agreement (e.g. social behaviour: RS: 0.45, ICC: 0.50, SDC: 0.09, LoA: −0.09 to 0.03 use of enrichment material: RS: 0.75, ICC: 0.68, SDC: 0.06, LoA: −0.03 to 0.03). Overall, observers agreed well in the IP, e.g. tail biting (RS: 0.52, ICC: 0.88; SDC: 0.05, LoA: −0.01 to 0.02) and wounds (RS: 0.43, ICC: 0.59, SDC: 0.10, LoA: −0.09 to 0.10). The parameter bursitis showed great differences (RS: 0.10, ICC: 0.0, SDC: 0.35, LoA: −0.37 to 0.40), which can be explained by difficulties in the assessment when the animals moved around quickly or their legs were soiled. In conclusion, the interobserver reliability was good in the BO and most IP, but not for the parameter bursitis and the QBA.
I. Czycholl; C. Kniese; K. Büttner; E. Grosse Beilage; L. Schrader; J. Krieter. Interobserver reliability of the ‘Welfare Quality® Animal Welfare Assessment Protocol for Growing Pigs’. SpringerPlus 2016, 5, 1 -13.
AMA StyleI. Czycholl, C. Kniese, K. Büttner, E. Grosse Beilage, L. Schrader, J. Krieter. Interobserver reliability of the ‘Welfare Quality® Animal Welfare Assessment Protocol for Growing Pigs’. SpringerPlus. 2016; 5 (1):1-13.
Chicago/Turabian StyleI. Czycholl; C. Kniese; K. Büttner; E. Grosse Beilage; L. Schrader; J. Krieter. 2016. "Interobserver reliability of the ‘Welfare Quality® Animal Welfare Assessment Protocol for Growing Pigs’." SpringerPlus 5, no. 1: 1-13.
Knowledge of the network structure of agonistic interactions helps to understand the formation and the development of aggressive behavior. Therefore, video observation data of 149 pigs over three different age levels were investigated for 2 days each directly after mixing (65 groups in the rearing area, 24 groups in the growing stable and 12 groups in the breeding stable). The aim of the study was to use network analysis to investigate the development of individual network positions of specific animals and to determine whether centrality parameters in previous mixing situations have an impact on the future behavior of the animals. The results of the weighted degree centrality indicated that weaned pigs had a higher fighting intensity directly after mixing compared to growing pigs and gilts. Also, the number of different opponents (degree centrality) was higher compared to the older age groups. The betweenness centrality showed relatively small values and no significant differences between the different age levels, whereas the closeness centrality showed high values at all observed age levels. Experiences gained in previous agonistic interactions had an impact on the centrality parameters in subsequent mixing situations. It was shown that the position of individual animals in agonistic interaction networks can be characterized using social network analysis and that changes over different age levels can be detected. Therefore, social network analysis provides insights into the formation and evolution of behavioral patterns which could be of particular interest for the identification of key factors with regard to abnormal behavior (e.g. tail biting).
Kathrin Büttner; Katharina Scheffler; Irena Czycholl; Joachim Krieter. Social network analysis - centrality parameters and individual network positions of agonistic behavior in pigs over three different age levels. SpringerPlus 2015, 4, 1 -13.
AMA StyleKathrin Büttner, Katharina Scheffler, Irena Czycholl, Joachim Krieter. Social network analysis - centrality parameters and individual network positions of agonistic behavior in pigs over three different age levels. SpringerPlus. 2015; 4 (1):1-13.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKathrin Büttner; Katharina Scheffler; Irena Czycholl; Joachim Krieter. 2015. "Social network analysis - centrality parameters and individual network positions of agonistic behavior in pigs over three different age levels." SpringerPlus 4, no. 1: 1-13.