摘要
Two experiments were carried out to study the grunting of sows during nursing and the sucking behaviour of piglets. In experimental Ⅰ,six Yorkshire sows and their litters were observed and managed in farrowing crates.In experimental Ⅱ,six Harbin White sows and their litters were selected and housed in farrowing pens.The behaviours and activities of the sows during nursing and the activities of piglets during sucking were recorded with a portable video camera(Panasonic NV-VX22EN) The results showed that the characteristic patterns of grunting by the sows consist of an initial period of rhythmic grunting at a fairly constant rate and followed by a period of more rapid grunting,and then a decline in grunting rate toward the completion of nursing.The pattern of vocalization showed by the mothers bears a reliable synchronization to the sucking behaviour of the piglets.The rate of grunting varied little during jostling for teat and nosing the udder.The beginning of slow sucking usually occurred during or just after the increase in grunt rate.The rapid sucking began 15～25 seconds after the period of most rapid grunting,following the decrease of grunt rate.afterwards the nursing ended.There were individualities found in sows'grunting patterns. It is found that vocalizations attracted the piglets to the sows and synchronized sucking activities of piglets,but the results indicated that the premassaging time and numbers of piglets engaging massaging influenced the grunting pattern and the onset of the milk ejection.As more piglets were involved the massaging,the higher the grunting rate peak,the faster the milk ejection.
Two experiments were carried out to study the grunting of sows during nursing and the sucking behaviour of piglets. In experimental Ⅰ,six Yorkshire sows and their litters were observed and managed in farrowing crates.In experimental Ⅱ,six Harbin White sows and their litters were selected and housed in farrowing pens.The behaviours and activities of the sows during nursing and the activities of piglets during sucking were recorded with a portable video camera(Panasonic NV-VX22EN) The results showed that the characteristic patterns of grunting by the sows consist of an initial period of rhythmic grunting at a fairly constant rate and followed by a period of more rapid grunting,and then a decline in grunting rate toward the completion of nursing.The pattern of vocalization showed by the mothers bears a reliable synchronization to the sucking behaviour of the piglets.The rate of grunting varied little during jostling for teat and nosing the udder.The beginning of slow sucking usually occurred during or just after the increase in grunt rate.The rapid sucking began 15～25 seconds after the period of most rapid grunting,following the decrease of grunt rate.afterwards the nursing ended.There were individualities found in sows'grunting patterns. It is found that vocalizations attracted the piglets to the sows and synchronized sucking activities of piglets,but the results indicated that the premassaging time and numbers of piglets engaging massaging influenced the grunting pattern and the onset of the milk ejection.As more piglets were involved the massaging,the higher the grunting rate peak,the faster the milk ejection.
