Social stress assessment in pigs

Pigs are exposed to social stressors due to high density and mixed housing. What is the definition of stress, what are stressors, and how do pigs respond to it? The swine industry’s evolution towards intensive large-scale production systems has increased pigs’ exposure to environmental, physiological, and social stressors. Stress has a detrimental impact on health, welfare, and production efficiency. Stress decreases appetite and feed intake, and enhances energy and nutrient expenditure.