In an experiment, pigs proved to be helpful animals and freed their fellow pigs who were locked up. In experiments at the Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN) in Dummerstorf near Rostock, in most cases they freed conspecifics that had previously been separated from their group within a certain period of time. To do this, the helping animals had to open small doors with their snouts.
“It doesn’t surprise me that pigs help each other,” said Liza R. Moscovice from the FBN of the German Press Agency. It was already known that they were sensitive to the feelings of others of their own kind and had strong social awareness. From their point of view, the question of the motivation behind the relief efforts is the really interesting one.
Loud conspecifics are helped more quickly
The “Let me out!” project, in which veterinarians from the University of Vienna are also working, is intended to further research this question. The team has now published the first results in the “Proceedings B” of the British Royal Society.
For its tests, the team divided more than 70 pigs into groups of 8 to 10 animals. In several test runs, one animal was separated from its group. The rest of the group stayed in the usual stable, but two boxes were connected to it. These were each connected to the stable by a window and a door – which could only be opened from the side of the stable. The researchers then placed the isolated animal in one of the two boxes.
According to the study, pigs opened the door behind their fellow pig more often and faster than the door to the empty box. In addition, the authors found a positive effect between the time a pig looked in the direction of the window with the caged animal and the likelihood that this animal actually opened the door. Locked up pigs, which had expressed their displeasure particularly clearly, were helped more quickly than others.
Empathy or more selfish motives?
According to Moscovice, the advantage compared to previous work is that the tests took place in the atmosphere the animals were used to and the pigs would have had many options for other behaviors. The argument against empathy as a motivation is that the increased stress level of the caged animals apparently did not transfer to the helping animals. This is suggested by measurements of the stress hormone cortisol in the animals.
According to Moscovice, this phenomenon should be further researched. So far, other, more selfish motives could not be ruled out, such as the reaction to certain stimuli.
Moscovice believes it is important to raise awareness of the social behavior and cognitive abilities of livestock. This is often underestimated. “This research really underscores that pigs want to stay in their social fabric. And it’s stressful for them to be separated, even for brief separations.”
This should be taken into account in the posture. It also becomes clear that pigs are very curious and like to have control over their environment. This can also be taken into account in attitudes if necessary. For example, you can give the animals different options when it comes to getting them from one area to another. After all, they could open doors.
