Barbering.. New Sow Barbering All The Others?

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Briony_S

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I have a hairdresser in my mindst. A new sow that was introduced a couple of weeks ago to my trio of girls. The others are all now full sized pigs. she is only about 9-10 weeks old and I witnessed her last night going round each pig nibbling away at them. All my girls have haircuts now, Is this a sign of her being dominant or what does it mean? Does them letting her mean she is now accepted into the herd?
 
We come across newly bonded youngsters that barber not all that rarely. In their case, it is clearly not a matter of dominance, but rather perhaps a matter of bonding grooming being taken to the max? She's certainly accepted; she just needs to grow in confidence in her new family and surroundings, and the barbering will probably stop.

I don't think that it is right to reduce barbering to just a dominance display; in my own experience, this explanation doesn't fit many situations and the causes for barbering are much more complex. You cannot stop it, so you will have to live with it. I have several sows that barber occasionally.
 
Kasper barbers my hair and leaves Quinn alone. She isn't hurting the pigs so I wouldn't worry :)
 
I was more curious as to the reason I find the whole behaviour of pigs fascinating. I wish I had a spare few days to just sit there and study them lol
 
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