Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM)

Results suggest that pigs placed in the foam box alone show increased activity in the foam compared to the control treatment. The opposite pattern is seen in pigs placed in the foam box with companionship were the overall activity levels are lower in foam compared to control treatment.

These results suggest that pigs respond to the foam exposure with increased activity and that this stress response is buffered in pigs provided companionship.

Pigs placed in the foam box alone perform significantly more escape attempts than pigs placed in the foam box with a companion (p=0.001). This result indicate that pigs were buffered by the presence of another pig in the foam box.