Farm Animals

Pig Aggression Between Sows Group Housing

Aggression between sows in group housing systems is a significant welfare challenge, driven by competition for resources and dominance hierarchy establishment.

Key Facts

Sow aggression peaks in the first 24-72 hours after group formation
Vulnerable sows including lame or subordinate animals are at highest injury risk
Electronic sow feeders allow individual feeding but do not eliminate competition at other resources
Group size affects aggression patterns with large groups showing less per-individual aggression
Providing multiple water points and resting areas reduces resource competition and aggression

Welfare Considerations

Sow aggression causes physical injuries and chronic stress. Well-designed group housing with adequate resources significantly reduces aggression without eliminating the welfare benefits of social housing.

What You Can Do

Design group housing with multiple water, feed, and resting access points
Monitor sows for injury and body condition indicating aggression impacts
Separate severely injured or vulnerable sows to recovery pens promptly
Support research into optimal group sizes and pen designs for sow welfare