New Analysis of Pigs' Grunts Reveals How They're Feeling

Scientists plan to develop a software tool to monitor the grunts of commercial pigs and determine when they need help.

By Tom Metcalfe
Mar 25, 2022 5:00 PM
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(Credit:Mr.Samarn Plubkilang/Shutterstock)

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(Inside Science) -- A database of thousands of grunts, oinks, snuffles and squeals, gathered and recorded from hundreds of pigs at every stage of their lives, will be used to help farmers better understand their animals' emotional states and improve their welfare in the future, according to a new study.

The researchers used an artificial intelligence system that determines with high accuracy whether the vocalizations made by pigs are expressions of positive or negative feelings, and even the circumstances where the sounds are made -- including situations such as nursing piglets, meeting their mothers or littermates, waiting around, being surprised, and huddling together.

"We decided to focus on pigs because they are very vocal," said animal behaviorist Elodie Briefer of the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, who co-led the study published last week in the journal Scientific Reports. "They grunt all the time."

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