MANIPULATION OF PIGS IN GROWING WITH ENRICHMENT OBJECTS

Abstract

Environmental enrichment in pig production is an important tool for improving animal welfare and preventing the development of stereotypical behaviour. The lack of opportunity to realize natural exploratory activity in industrial conditions can lead to stress, aggression and deterioration of pig performance. In this study we visualized the manipulations of growing pigs using three different enrichment objects: plastic bottles half-filled with grain, ropes suspended from the cage fence, and piles of paper. The assessment of manipulative behavior was based on the analysis of the frequency of interaction with the objects (times/hour), the average duration of manipulation with the object (h/day), and the time spent on manipulation (in min/hour). The study of manipulations of pigs in growing up in the presence of enrichment objects was conducted on animals where the maternal form is sows of Large White breed, and the paternal form is boars PIC 337, which were kept in the conditions of the pig complex of the private enterprise “Victoriya” of Bashtanka district, Mykolayiv region. All experimental animals were distributed into cages (according to the principle of analogs) with 88 heads in each (4 cages). The study was based on the data of the experiment and the dynamics of animal behaviour for 7 days. The results show that plastic grain bottles cause the highest level of behavioral activity. The frequency of manipulation with this object is on average 22 times/hour, the average duration of manipulation per day is 3.5 hours, and the average time of manipulation per hour is 13.6 minutes. Ropes are of somewhat less interest: 15.7 manipulations/hour, the average duration of interaction is 2 hours/ day, and the average time of activity is 9.1 minutes/hour. The lowest level of behavioural activity was recorded for piles of paper, with which pigs come into contact an average of 6 times/hour, with an average interaction duration of 30 minutes/day, which is associated with rapid deformation of the paper due to chewing. The highest level of activity in interaction with enrichment objects was observed in the first two days after the introduction of new objects, with a gradual decrease in subsequent days. In the case of plastic bottles with grain, behavioural activity remained stable throughout the study period, which is explained by the presence of a food stimulus. The ropes gradually lost their attractiveness, and the paper quickly lost interest after the first day due to its destruction. The obtained results confirm the importance of using enrichment objects to stimulate the natural activity of pigs in industrial conditions. The use of plastic bottles with grain is the most effective way to engage animals in manipulative behaviour, which obviously contributes to reducing stress and improving the overall welfare of pigs. The results of this experiment can be used for further research and development of strategies for enriching the environment at pig farms.