Social facilitation and synchronization of eating between familiar and unfamiliar newly weaned piglets

Two experiments investigated the possibility of using behavioural methods to enhance feed intake in piglets following weaning. The effects of sex and familiarity on eating were studied in the group situation and in pair tests. In groups, unfamiliar males consumed more feed, showed a significantly greater weight gain over the 5 days post weaning, but were less synchronized in their eating than were familiar males. Familiar females spent more time at the feeder and were more synchronized in their eating than unfamiliar females, but there were no differences in feed consumed or weight gain. In the pair tests, there was no effect of familiarity, although there was a strong effect of the presence of the stimulus pig. Males consumed significantly more feed than females. The interaction between factors positively and negatively affecting eating is discussed.