Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

Effects of species-relevant environmental enrichment on the behaviour and productivity of finishing pigs

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Heleen Van de Weerd, Caroline Docking, Dr Kate Breuer, Emerita Professor Sandra Edwards

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.


Abstract

Three different enrichment objects, which were designed according to pig-specific requirements, were provided to groups of growing pigs with undocked tails. The enrichment treatments were a substrate dispenser providing straw, a rootable feed dispenser providing flavoured feed and a liquid dispenser that provided flavoured water when chewable rods were manipulated. These objects were compared with a pen with a full bed of straw (positive control) and a commercial enrichment object, a Bite Rite (Ikadan System, Denmark, minimal enrichment). Video tape recordings from weeks 1, 3 and 7 were scanned using time-sampling to investigate general behaviour and enrichment use. Production parameters were measured, as well as occasions where tail biting (with fresh damage to a tail) occurred. The behavioural observations revealed that all of the enrichment provided was used by the pigs, but there were differences in the level and type of enrichment use by the pigs. The extent to which the straw and straw rack were used was significantly greater than for the other treatments (11.5 and 3.6% of the observations). Enrichment that was located on the floor could be manipulated from different postures, including whilst lying down; for example in 6.6% of the observations in which pigs on straw were lying down, they were manipulating the straw. This also applied, but to a lesser extent, to the straw rack and rootable feed dispenser. Groups provided with the liquid dispenser (which experienced technical problems) and Bite Rite had the highest prevalence of tail biting incidents (100 and 83% of pens, respectively). This study shows that a full bed of straw was the most successful way of occupying the pigs and, in addition, it prevented severe tail biting. Where it is not possible to supply a full bed of straw, point source enrichment objects such as substrate or feed dispensers appear to offer a good substitute. Such objects were well-used and did not affect production negatively; furthermore, severe outbreaks of tail biting were prevented. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Van de Weerd HA, Docking CM, Day JEL, Breuer K, Edwards SA

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Applied Animal Behaviour Science

Year: 2006

Volume: 99

Issue: 3-4

Pages: 230-247

ISSN (print): 0168-1591

ISSN (electronic): 1872-9045

Publisher: Elsevier

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2005.10.014

DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2005.10.014


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Share