A Sentience Article from All-Creatures.org



Can Music Benefit Sanctuary Pig Residents?

From Amber Barnes, Open Sanctuary Project
October 2022

If you have experience caring for pigs, you know they have an impressive number of vocalizations they use to communicate with one another. These vocalizations range from deep soft grunts to high-pitched squeals and others. Pigs use their good sense of hearing to listen and interpret these vocal communications. Pigs also use their hearing to distinguish between different caregiver voices. How might they react to music?

music for Pigs

Non-Compassionate Sources

We at The Open Sanctuary Project disavow animal experimentation and any “use” of animals for human purposes. Because compassionate studies on valuing the personality, intelligence, and unique attributes of many nonhuman animals are rare, in this resource, we draw from existing work that may be non-compassionate but may, all the same, be used to improve the lives of residents. We work towards a future when compassionate, non-exploitive, and non-invasive research is the norm. Still, in the meantime, we will work with what we have to help sanctuaries help animals as effectively as possible. You can read a little bit more about our non-compassionate source policy here.

Music For Pigs: The Right Tune Can Promote Wellbeing

Welcome to our second resource in our Science For Sanctuaries series! If you care for pigs, you have likely found yourself brainstorming creative ways to improve the lives of pig residents. In this resource, we will review what is known about how music may affect pig residents and how a better understanding of this could help you provide better care for pig residents. Is music good for pigs? We know that different types of music can have varying effects on humans and other animals, both positive and negative.

Does the type of music matter? Can it affect behavior or emotions? While research addressing these questions does exist, more research is needed. However, some studies indicate that music may be beneficial in a caregiver’s toolbox for promoting positive welfare for pig residents. In this resource, we will briefly examine the current research available and whether the findings have application in sanctuary settings. Let’s take a look at the research:

A Pig’s Relationship With Sound

If you have experience caring for pigs, you know they have an impressive number of vocalizations they use to communicate with one another. These vocalizations range from deep soft grunts to high-pitched squeals and others. Pigs use their good sense of hearing to listen and interpret these vocal communications. Pigs also use their hearing to distinguish between different caregiver voices.

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Please read the ENTIRE STUDY HERE.
 


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