Award details

Social cognition in the domestic pig

Reference	S08062
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Michael Mendl
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Richard Byrne
Institution	University of Bristol
Department	Clinical Veterinary Science
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	210,398
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/01/1998
End date	01/04/2001
Duration	39 months

Abstract

An understanding of animal mind and socially induced stress are major goals in animal welfare science. This research addresses both issues via an investigation of social understanding in the pig. Methods adapted from primate studies will be used to examine the sophistication of pig social tactics, and whether such behaviour indicates real understanding of others' knowledge or can be explained in terms of simpler associative learning abilities. The ability of pigs to evaluate the social propensities of others will be studied in the context of aggressive behaviour. If pigs can accurately assess each other's fighting propensities and settle disputes by assessment, this cognitive ability could be harnessed to minimise aggression on pig farms.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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