Dominance Order and its Formation in Wild Boars, Sus scrofa leucomystax, under Captive Conditions

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  • イノシシの飼育管理下における社会的順位とその形成過程
  • Dominance Order and its Formation in Wi

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Abstract

Dominance order and its formation of wild boars at feeding time were studied. Two breeding groups (group A : 1 male and 5 females, group B : 1 male and 6 females) and one raising group (3 castrated males and 7 females) of Japanese wild boars, Sus scrofa leucomystax, in captivity were used in this experiment. Feed for each breeding group was shared by the group members plus one. The position of each feeding spot was determined randomly (spot feeding). The number of movements by wild boars among the feeding spots, the number of animals feeding simultaneously at one spot, and the number of spots which were occupied at the same time were observed. The number of voluntary movements from one spot to another was almost the same among males, alpha females or omega females. Evasive movements due to the approach of others occurred much more among low-ranked females than among high-ranked females (P<0.01), but were not observed among males. The dominance order of wild boars at feeding follows a straight line order, the same as that of domestic pigs. During spot feeding of the raising group, done at one location before this study, the number of voluntary movements was reduced with the passage of time, while evasive movements increased gradually. In breeding groups, wild boars fed at one spot, and no more than 2 animals ever fed simultaneously at one spot. In the raising group, the maximum number of animals feeding simultaneously at one spot was 7 at the beginning of spot feeding, but it decreased to 3 animals 3 weeks later. Evasive movements in the breeding group were caused by the approach of others without hostility. On the other hand, evasive movements in the raising group were mostly caused by contact with others. It is likely that this spot feeding in the raising stage accelerate the formation of dominance order. It has been observed that the dominance order at feeding time coincides with that at other times in breeding groups. Therefore spot feeding is an effective and simple method for ascertaining the dominance order of animals which are hard to tame by man. Jpn. J. Livest. Management, 33(2) : 33-38. 1997. Received April 30,1997. Accepted June 9,1997.

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