View source for Library:Gilts prefer an open pen to a stall (research)

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'''Gilts prefer an open pen to a stall''' is a research paper written by Thomas Ede, Mia Ceribelli & Thomas D. Parsons published on 27 April 20244 in Scientific Reports, volume 14, Article number: 9684 (2024).

== Summary ==

* '''Study Purpose''': The research aimed to understand how housing confinement affects pigs, specifically gilts (young female pigs), by observing their preference for open spaces versus stalls.
* '''Method''': Over 7 days, gilts were given a choice between a small stall and a larger, shared open area. Their behavior and preferences were recorded.
* '''Findings''': Most gilts (21 out of 29) preferred spending time in the open area, with an average of 95.2% of their time spent outside the stalls1.
* '''Conclusion''': The study suggests that when given a choice, gilts prefer more open space, indicating that crate confinement could negatively impact their welfare.

== Findings ==

* '''Housing Preferences''': The study investigates gilts’ preferences between open pens and stalls, revealing a significant preference for open areas.
* '''Personality Traits''': Gilts’ personality traits, assessed through tests, showed that more engaged gilts spent more time in crates.
* '''Time and Preference''': The study found that gilts were more likely to use crates at night and as the experiment progressed.
* '''Welfare Implications''': The clear preference for open areas suggests that confining pigs to crates could negatively impact their welfare.

== See also ==

*

== External links ==

* [https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-60617-2 Full study] Nature Journal

[[Category:Pigs (research)]]
[[Category:Farm animal (research)]]