Social network analysis - centrality parameters and individual network positions of agonistic behavior in pigs over three different age levels
Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
Standard
Social network analysis - centrality parameters and individual network positions of agonistic behavior in pigs over three different age levels. / Buettner, Kathrin; Scheffler, Katharina; Czycholl, Irena; Krieter, Joachim.
I: SpringerPlus, Bind 4, 185, 17.04.2015.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
Harvard
APA
Vancouver
Author
Bibtex
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - Social network analysis - centrality parameters and individual network positions of agonistic behavior in pigs over three different age levels
AU - Buettner, Kathrin
AU - Scheffler, Katharina
AU - Czycholl, Irena
AU - Krieter, Joachim
PY - 2015/4/17
Y1 - 2015/4/17
N2 - Knowledge of the network structure of agonistic interactions helps to understand the formation and the development of aggressive behavior. Therefore, video observation data of 149 pigs over three different age levels were investigated for 2 days each directly after mixing (65 groups in the rearing area, 24 groups in the growing stable and 12 groups in the breeding stable). The aim of the study was to use network analysis to investigate the development of individual network positions of specific animals and to determine whether centrality parameters in previous mixing situations have an impact on the future behavior of the animals. The results of the weighted degree centrality indicated that weaned pigs had a higher fighting intensity directly after mixing compared to growing pigs and gilts. Also, the number of different opponents (degree centrality) was higher compared to the older age groups. The betweenness centrality showed relatively small values and no significant differences between the different age levels, whereas the closeness centrality showed high values at all observed age levels. Experiences gained in previous agonistic interactions had an impact on the centrality parameters in subsequent mixing situations. It was shown that the position of individual animals in agonistic interaction networks can be characterized using social network analysis and that changes over different age levels can be detected. Therefore, social network analysis provides insights into the formation and evolution of behavioral patterns which could be of particular interest for the identification of key factors with regard to abnormal behavior (e.g. tail biting).
AB - Knowledge of the network structure of agonistic interactions helps to understand the formation and the development of aggressive behavior. Therefore, video observation data of 149 pigs over three different age levels were investigated for 2 days each directly after mixing (65 groups in the rearing area, 24 groups in the growing stable and 12 groups in the breeding stable). The aim of the study was to use network analysis to investigate the development of individual network positions of specific animals and to determine whether centrality parameters in previous mixing situations have an impact on the future behavior of the animals. The results of the weighted degree centrality indicated that weaned pigs had a higher fighting intensity directly after mixing compared to growing pigs and gilts. Also, the number of different opponents (degree centrality) was higher compared to the older age groups. The betweenness centrality showed relatively small values and no significant differences between the different age levels, whereas the closeness centrality showed high values at all observed age levels. Experiences gained in previous agonistic interactions had an impact on the centrality parameters in subsequent mixing situations. It was shown that the position of individual animals in agonistic interaction networks can be characterized using social network analysis and that changes over different age levels can be detected. Therefore, social network analysis provides insights into the formation and evolution of behavioral patterns which could be of particular interest for the identification of key factors with regard to abnormal behavior (e.g. tail biting).
KW - Agonistic behavior
KW - Pigs
KW - Social network analysis
KW - Centrality parameters
KW - GROUP-SIZE
KW - FEEDING-BEHAVIOR
KW - AGGRESSION
KW - PERFORMANCE
KW - ORGANIZATION
KW - FAMILIARITY
KW - ENRICHMENT
KW - RESPONSES
U2 - 10.1186/s40064-015-0963-1
DO - 10.1186/s40064-015-0963-1
M3 - Journal article
VL - 4
JO - SpringerPlus
JF - SpringerPlus
SN - 2193-1801
M1 - 185
ER -
ID: 328018524