The objective of the present study was to compare the differences and regularities in social behavior of newly mixed piglets under the conditions of large-scale commercial pig production. Three methods of grouping piglets at weaning (31-34d) into a 12-member weaned pool were studied: 6 pigs from 2 litters (6 × 2); 4 pigs from 3 litters (4 × 3); 3 pigs from 4 litters (3 × 4). Each method had three replicates and the weaned piglet body weight ranged from 7.4 up to 9.8 kg. Agonistic behavior was recorded over three observation periods: 0-1.5 h immediately after mixing; 1 h, 4-5 h later the same afternoon; 5 days later for 1 h. Both contact (head thrusting, biting and pushing) and non-contact (chasing, threatening and displacement) agonistic behavior were recorded. Contact behaviors made the most significant contribution to obtain a new dominance status in the social hierarchy and decreased significantly in frequency over time. Subsequently, the rate of non-contact behavior also declined. During the first observation period covering the crucial time for establishing dominance hierarchy, structure 4 × 3 had significantly less head thrust than 6 × 2 or 3 × 4. Generally, 4 × 3 showed a lower rate of contact behavior compared to the other two groups as well as less non-contact behavior than 3 × 4, but it was similar to 6 × 2. It appears that the 4 × 3 structure may cause less physical encounters than the other two groupings.
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