Effect of toys on behaviour and body weight of weaned pigs after mixing

초록

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a toy on the behaviour and body weight of weaned pigs after mixing. Two groups (192 pigs in total, control: without toy; treatment: with toy placed on the floor) of weaned pigs housed in pens (1.8 m x 1.4 m, 4 pigs/pen) were observed with the aid of video technology for nine consecutive hours in the early (days 1 and 2) and late (days 38 and 39) period after mixing. Body weight of pigs at the end of the study (Mann-Whitney U-test, Z = -2.46, P = 0.01) and the average daily gain (Z = -2.75, P < 0.01) were 10% higher in the treatment group than in the control group. The presence of the toy in the pen influenced the pig behaviours. In pens enriched with toys there was an increase of feeding behaviour and a decrease of agonistic and belly nosing behaviours. Toy supply reduced negative social behaviours and thereby improved body weight of weaned pigs. The results of this study suggest that toys used as environmental enrichment are useful for enhancing the pig welfare and effective for farmers.

키워드