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The effect of enrichment on the behaviour, welfare and performance of early-weaned piglets in slatted flatdeck housing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2017

E.A. Moore
Affiliation:
Dept. of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Madingley Rd., Cambridge CB3 OES
D.M. Broom
Affiliation:
Dept. of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Madingley Rd., Cambridge CB3 OES
P.H. Simmins
Affiliation:
ADAS Terrington, Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk PE34 4PW
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Extract

Consideration of the welfare of the weaner pig requires knowledge of the needs of the animal and determining how these needs may be accommodated in commercial housing. Piglets raised in extensive conditions spend much of their day engaged in exploratory behaviours, including rooting, nosing, shaking and chewing objects. Research indicates that exploratory activity is important for the animal's well-being. Flatdeck accommodation with slatted flooring is coming under increasing critisism on welfare grounds in that it offers little outlet for such behaviours. As a consequence, piglets tend to redirect these behaviours towards penmates which is undesirable. Supplementing the pen with objects which enable normal exploratory behaviours may create an environment more suited to the needs of the piglet. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of environmental enrichment on the behaviour, welfare and performance of early-weaned piglets.

Type
Pig Housing and Welfare
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1994

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