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. 2021 Aug 8;11(8):2338. doi: 10.3390/ani11082338

Table 1.

List of parameters measured in the study, as well as their level of sampling, references, and description.

Type Parameter Reference Description
QBA Qualitative Behavior Assessment [23] The value was expressed in mm on a scale of 125 mm (visual analogue scale for QBA).
BM Social behavior (negative and positive) [23] Modified from the reference. Negative social behavior included any aggressive social behavior or biting causing a response from the disturbed animal. Positive social behavior consisted of sniffing, licking, play, and moving gently away from the other animal without an aggressive or fight reaction from this individual. Negative and positive social behaviors were recorded, and they were expressed as the ratio of the percentage of social behavior (positive or negative) to the percentage of total active behavior (sum of social, explorative, and other behaviors).
BM Explorative behavior (pen and environmental enrichment—directed) [23] Pen- and enrichment- directed exploratory behaviors were recorded, and they were expressed as the ratio of the percentage of social behavior (positive or negative) to the percentage of total active behavior (sum of social explorative and other behaviors).
BM Other active behavior [23] Any active behavior not included in the previous categories.
BM Inactive behavior [23] Any behavior when the animal remained motionless, i.e., without any activity.
BM Tail biting [24] A pig attempting to manipulate or bite the tail of a pen mate.
BM Ear biting [24] A pig attempting to manipulate or bite the ear of a pen mate.
BM Body biting [24] A pig attempting to manipulate or bite a part of the body of a pen mate (e.g., flank, legs).
BM Fighting [24] A pig involved in fighting.
BM Bar biting [25] A pig biting or nibbling the bars or other structures in the pen.
BM Belly nosing [26] A pig is performing the same movements as when nursing on the body of another pig.
BM, Vulva biting - A pig is attempting to manipulate or bite the vulva of a pen mate.
BM Poke tongue - A pig sitting or standing and poking the tongue in and out.
BM Chewing [25] A pig showing continuous chewing without evidence of food in the oral cavity.
BM Dog sitting - A pig sitting immobile on forelegs with hindquarters on the floor.
BM Licking - A pig whose snout or tongue was used to touch a pen mate followed by head movements.
BM Polydipsia - Repeated access of a pig to a drinker, with water intake that appeared excessive for its physiological needs and/or with water waste.
BM Tail position [27] Scores were defined as follows: 0 = tail up (curly); 1 = tail down (hanging); 2 = tail tucked low (down and tucked to the body).
LHM Skin lesions [23] Considering 5 separate areas (ear, fronts, middle, hindquarters, legs). Scores were defined as follows: 0 = up to 4 lesions visible; 1 = 5–10 lesions visible; 2 = 11 to 15 lesions visible.
LHM Tail lesions [23] Modified from the reference as follows: 0 = absence of lesions; 1 = superficial biting along the length of the tail but no evidence of swelling or blood; 2 = fresh blood visible on the tail, or presence of a scar, swelling, or missing part of the tail.
LHM Tear staining [20] Presence of red tears in the left eye. Modified from the reference as follows: 0 = absence of staining; 1 = staining barely detectable or less than 50% of the total eye area; 2 = staining up to 100% of the eye area or extending below the mouth.
LHM Hernia [23] Modified from the reference. The presence or absence of this parameter was assessed in each observed individual.
LHM Lameness [23] Modified from the reference. The presence or absence of this parameter was assessed in each observed individual.
LHM Further care [28] Animals that had to be removed from the pen, needing further care, or being emergency culled. The presence or absence of this parameter was assessed in each observed individual.

QBA = qualitative behavior assessment; BM = behavioral measure; LHM = lesion and health measure.