Assessment of personality traits in cloned minipigs using three different behavioral tests

Identifying and grouping personality types in pigs may be important for their management and welfare. This study assessed the within-individual consistency and between-group differences in activity level, boldness, and exploration in 12 two-year-old male miniature pigs from three clone groups using three behavioral tests: the open field test, the human approach test, and the novel object test, each repeated three times. The study examines the consistency of individual behaviors over time and potential differences between clone groups. Activity levels were consistent within individual pigs in the open field test. Conversely, the time spent close to the stimulus in the human approach test, and the novel object test was not consistent within individual pigs. Clone groups showed different activity levels in the open field test but did not differ in the time spent near the person or balloon in the human approach test and the novel object test, suggesting a genetic influence on activity levels but not on boldness or exploration in male miniature pigs. • Minipigs were tested using the Open Field, Human Approach, and Novel Object tests. • Activity was repeatable within individual pigs and differed between clone groups. • Activity resulted partly genetically based and potentially selectable. • Boldness and exploration were neither repeatable nor different between groups. • Selection of personality traits would improve minipig welfare and management.