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Kune Kune piglets learn from each other, study suggests
Free-ranging Kune Kune piglets watch and copy tasks demonstrated by their mother or aunt.

Researchers believe talent relates to how they are kept

Kune Kune pigs learn from each other and can remember demonstrated techniques, new research suggests.

The study, published in the journal Animal Behaviour, found that free-ranging Kune Kune piglets watch and copy tasks demonstrated by their mother or aunt. Furthermore, researchers found that Kune Kune piglets can recall observed tasks up to 24 hours later.

In the study, researchers sought to demonstrate social learning through the "vertical transmission of information" - i.e. passing on of knowledge to the next generation. The task involved opening the sliding door of a box to get a piece of food. The pigs could use their snout to move the door into one of thee positions: left, right or middle.

Eighteen piglets were divided into three groups. While two groups observed their mother or aunt as they used the opening techniques, the third group had to work out the task without observation. This ensured there was no predisposition or bias regarding the movement of the sliding door.

Researchers found that the non-observer piglets used all possible techniques to open the door, confirming there was no predisposition or bias. Conversely, the observer piglets displayed learning behaviour through observation.

Interestingly, the piglets produced the best results when they were not tested for the learning effect until the next day. The researchers said that only rarely, and never before among pigs, has this remarkable behaviour been demonstrated among animals.


The authors of the study believe the talent for social learning among Kune Kune pigs relates to how they are kept:

“The pigs live in natural family groups under free-ranging conditions. This appears to trigger an existing aptitude for social intelligence among these animals,” the authors write. “It would be worthwhile to consider the positive effects of learning from older animals in commercial pig farming, for example when making improvements to the housing conditions.”

The study, Object movement re-enactment in free-ranging Kune Kune piglets, was led by the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.