Biology subjects

Moscovice, L. R.

Publications and source records attributed to Moscovice, L. R..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Consolation behaviour in pigs: Prior exposure to group members in need of help drives targeted affiliation and facilitates social buffering

We assessed whether pigs provide consolation, referring to targeted affiliation that attenuates a partners stress, under experimental conditions that manipulated exposure to stressed partners. Using a within-subject design, 74 pigs were tested in three contexts: a helping task in which group members could observe and help a trapped focal pig to return to the group, a direct-reunion, in which group members were naive to the experience of a separated focal pig until reunion, and an undisturbed control. We measured affiliative and non-affiliative interactions, anxiety behaviours and changes in salivary cortisol. Only the helping context satisfied most consolation criteria: there were selective increases in unidirectional affiliative contacts from the observer to the focal pig, non-affiliative interactions remained at baseline, and focal pigs showed fewer anxiety behaviours. In contrast, direct-reunions triggered increases in affiliative and non-affiliative interactions and higher anxiety. Cortisol increased during both direct-reunions and helping, but its level was not linked to affiliation. Results add to growing evidence for consolation behaviour in pigs and suggest best practices for reintegrating pigs into groups. Graded reintroductions that allow observers to assess the emotional state of targets may promote social buffering, whereas abrupt regrouping may trigger more generalized arousal or personal distress.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2023

Spontaneous helping in pigs is mediated by helper's social attention and distress signals of individuals in need

Helping behaviour is of special interest for prosociality because it appears to be motivated by the needs of others. We developed a novel paradigm to investigate helping in pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus) and tested 75 individuals in eight groups in their home pens. Two identical compartments were attached to the pen, equipped with a window, and a door that could be opened from the outside by lifting a handle. Pigs in all groups spontaneously opened doors during a five-day familiarization. During testing, each pig was isolated once from its group and placed in one of the two compartments, in a counter-balanced order. In 85% of cases, pigs released a trapped group member from the test compartment within 20 minutes (median latency = 2.2 minutes). Pigs were more likely and quicker to open a door to free the trapped pig than to open a door to an empty compartment. Pigs who spent more time looking at the window of the test compartment were more likely to help. Distress signals by the trapped pig increased its probability of being helped. Responses are consistent with several criteria for identifying targeted helping, but results can also be explained by selfish motivations.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2021

Salivary oxytocin co-varies with parturition and nursing behavior in domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus)

Domestic pigs produce twice as many offspring as wild boars, but little is known about the effects of selection pressures for increased productivity on pig behavior and welfare. From an evolutionary perspective, producing larger litters is expected to increase parent-offspring conflict, which may help to explain why piglets from larger litters are more likely to die by starvation or infant-crushing. Our goals were to identify behavioral and physiological correlates of variation in maternal care that may be useful as selection criteria in breeding programs to improve pig welfare. We observed eleven sows regularly during their lactational period and recorded their hourly postural changes and the proportion of time that piglets had contact with teats (nursing contact) or any physical contact with the sow (social contact). As a potential physiological indicator of maternal care, we measured oxytocin concentrations in 119 saliva samples from sows following observations. Samples were extracted and measured in an Enzyme Immunoassay. As a biological validation, we measured changes in salivary oxytocin during parturition in an additional eleven sows. Laboratory validations confirmed that the assay is suitable for measuring salivary oxytocin in pigs, and oxytocin increased almost three-fold during parturition. Sows nursing contact was positively correlated with social contact and negatively correlated with postural changes. Sow oxytocin concentrations were predicted by their nursing contact, but not by their overall social contact with piglets. We compare our results with current evidence regarding best practice methods for salivary oxytocin measurements and discuss the potential to use indicators of maternal care as selection criteria to improve pig welfare.

physiology↗