Savaging behaviour in gilts and sows

Harris, M. J., Li, Y. Z. and Gonyou, H. W. 2003. Savaging behaviour in gilts and sows. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 83: 819-821. This study investigated the effects of parity, prior experience, and environmental conditions on the incidence of savaging on seven commercial farms. Results indicated that 3.40% of gilts and 1.22% of sows killed one or more piglets (P < 0.05). Fourteen percent of sows that savaged as gilts also savaged during their second farrowing, compared to 0.8% of sows that had not previously savaged. The incidence of savaging was similar among gilts during the first (all gilt herd) and second (gilt/sow herd) farrowing cycles.