1Department of Livestock Production and Management, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai-600 007, India.
2Department of Livestock Production and Management, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal-637 001.
3Livestock Research Station, Kattupakkam-603 203.
An experiment was conducted to find out Prepartum behaviour in primiparous Large White Yorkshire pigs. Twelve gilts were selected and randomly divided into two groups, each consists of 6 gilts one under group house and other under individual pen. The gilts under group house were moved to farrowing crate one week before the expected date of farrowing and gilts under pen remained same in the pen during farrowing. Farrowing behaviours were recorded continuously for the period from 3 days prior to day of farrowing. The duration and frequency of sitting, belly lie and side lie were significantly (P<0.01) higher in gilts from group housed in crate than gilts in individual pen while the trend was reverse in case of standing position. The frequencies of all postures and postural changes and duration of standing increased with the approach of farrowing time, while duration of belly lie and side lie decreased with the approach of farrowing. Duration of nesting activities like pawing, rooting and straw, bar biting, grunting and frequencies of nest building activities, biting, grunting and champing except straw activity were significantly (P<0.01) higher in gilts from group housed in farrowing crate than those in individual pen.
