Data of "Pen mates' interactions, potential precursors of damaging behaviours, object manipulation, straw rooting, and primary activity: A detailed data set in undocked pigs under dietary protein restriction"

Damaging behaviours, such as tail biting, are common problems in pig production, compromising animal welfare and causing economic losses. Detailed studies are impeded by the difficulty of directly observing these behaviours. Tail biting is a broader phenomenon that begins long before lesions manifest, and behavioural problems caused by various stressors present themselves weeks before they escalate to damaging behaviour, resulting in serious injuries. Therefore, detailed data on behaviours, which can be considered precursors of tail biting, such as oral and nasal manipulation of conspecifics, should be collected. The present data were collected in the course of a large study on the genetic potential of protein efficiency, in which the crude protein content in the diet was reduced to 80% of the recommendations. Dietary protein reduction is a promising way to reduce nitrogen emissions in pig manure, but its implications for animal welfare are not yet clear. Pigs differ phenotypically and genetically in their ability to utilise dietary proteins; therefore, there might be individual differences in how they cope with the protein reduction. Here, we present detailed data of focal observations of 95 pigs at an experimental farm with undocked tails that were fed a protein-reduced diet. Pigs were observed directly in their home pens for 5 min each on four different days. All actions directed towards objects in the pen, interactions with and confrontations among pen mates, and straw rooting behaviour and general activity were recorded. After the behavioural observations, wounds on different parts of the body and the cleanliness of the pigs were noted. The protein efficiency of 94 pigs was obtained. The data set comprises six tables. The first table contains information on the animals, including the identities of their parents, farrowing group, sex, and protein efficiency. The other data tables contain four 5-min observations of each pig on 10 object-manipulation behaviours; 150 interaction behaviours, including reactions; 14 confrontation behaviours and their outcomes and reactions; 10 mounting behaviours, including reactions; two rooting behaviours; seven basic behaviours; and an index of general activity. The observations took place under comparatively good housing conditions. Pigs were not tail-docked and were given fresh straw daily, ad libitum access to feed, floor space above the legal requirements (only a partially slatted floor), and daily cleaning of pens, and they were closely monitored for signs of damaging behaviour; all of these are favourable conditions as they limit stress and the risk of damaging behaviour. These data can be used to further explore the relationships of specific behaviours and phenomena and their association with protein efficiency. The ethogram can be used as a template for further observations. Practitioners could use the data to support pigs’ need for occupation, such as by providing sufficient straw.