Influence of different types of environmental enrichment on the behaviour of finishing pigs in two different housing systems

Abstract

It is generally accepted that environmental enrichment improves the welfare of growing pigs through the provision of substrates for exploratory and manipulatory behaviour. EC Directive 2001/93 and The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 state that pigs must have permanent access to materials to enable proper investigation and manipulation activities, and give as examples straw, hay, wood, sawdust, mushroom compost and peat. However, the use of particulate rooting materials in slatted systems can cause difficulties for slurry management and it is important to establish whether alternative enrichment forms, such as hanging objects, can be equally effective. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of environmental enrichment with either hanging manipulable toys or rootable substrates on the behaviour of finishing pigs in two contrasting housing systems.