STUDY ON THE BEHAVIOUR OF EAST BALKAN SWINE IN FREE RANGE CONDITIONS

Sonia Ivanova-Peneva

Abstract: Behaviour of East Balkan swine has been studied in three different farms in Bulgaria in autumn-winter and spring-summer season in 2008-2010 during two consecutive days for four hours from 9:00 to 13:00. The behaviour of all herd as well as two focal animals were observed. For focal animals the leader of the herd - a sow and one fattening pig of about 100 kg were chosen. The behavioural features such as feeding, walking, lying, grazing, rooting, wallowing as a percentage of observation time were studied as well as social, sex, agonistic and dunging behaviour. It is concluded that in free range conditions East Balkan Swine demonstrates grazing, rooting and searching food behaviour as a basic activities of their behavioural repertoire. There is a strong social organization and hierarchic order build in herds and a lieder position is taken by a sow. The activity of East Balkan Swine and grazing area of habitat depends on ensuring with feeding
recourses during the year.

Keywords: behaviour; East Balkan Swine; free range; grazing area

Date published: 2023-02-21