Pigs can feel optimistic or pessimistic about life
Research into the psychological well-being of pigs has found they are capable of feeling optimistic or pessimistic about life.Boffins from Newcastle University say the environment a pig lives in can have a massive impact on how they feel.
They came to this conclusion after devising an experiment in which pigs were split into two groups, one half in plush surroundings, the others in basic environmemnt.
Each group were then repeatedly played a note on a glockenspiel with those in the better surrounding given a treat each time, and the others something less pleasant.
Both sets were then played a new sound and those who had lived better lives expected another treat while the others shied away pessimistic about what might happen to them… like find themselves in another scientific study.
Dr Catherine Douglas said: “We found that almost without exception, the pigs in the enriched environment were optimistic about what this new noise could mean and approached expecting to get the treat.
“In contrast, the pigs in the boring environment were pessimistic about this new strange noise and, fearing it might be the mildly unpleasant plastic bag, did not approach for a treat.
Sandra Edwards, professor of agriculture at Newcastle University and one of the UK’s leading experts in pig welfare, added: “Although techniques exist to measure stress, in the past we haven’t been able to directly ask a pig if it is happy or not.
Instead we have assessed production systems based purely on human perceptions and our best interpretations of behaviour.
“Our research, for the first time, provides an insight into pigs' subjective emotional state and this will help scientists and farmers to continue to improve the lives of their pigs in the future.”
LINKS
Newcastle University
“In contrast, the pigs in the boring environment were pessimistic about this new strange noise and, fearing it might be the mildly unpleasant plastic bag, did not approach for a treat.
Sandra Edwards, professor of agriculture at Newcastle University and one of the UK’s leading experts in pig welfare, added: “Although techniques exist to measure stress, in the past we haven’t been able to directly ask a pig if it is happy or not.
Instead we have assessed production systems based purely on human perceptions and our best interpretations of behaviour.
“Our research, for the first time, provides an insight into pigs' subjective emotional state and this will help scientists and farmers to continue to improve the lives of their pigs in the future.”
LINKS
Newcastle University
