Predicting the effect of an increase in available space on the activity and exploratory behaviour of pigs raised in an enriched environment
X. Averós, L. Brossard, J.-Y. Dourmad , K. H. De Greef, H.L. Edge, S.A. Edwards, M.-C Meunier-Salaün.Prédiction de l’effet d’une augmentation de l’espace disponible sur l’activité et le comportement exploratoire des porcs élevés en milieu enrichi. 43e Journées de la Recherche Porcine. 2011.
23-Feb-2011 (15 years 3 months 14 days ago)A meta‐analysis, comprising 26 experiments published in 25 papers, was carried out in order to determine and quantify the combined effects of average space per pig (allometric measure; k = average area per pig (m2) / average pig body weight (kg) * 0.667) and pen enrichment on the pigs’ activity and investigative behaviours.
A higher inter‐study variability was confirmed for the k‐value and for the different behaviours studied. A progressive decrease in the percentage of time spent lying and sitting was found when k‐value increased, independent of the presence or absence of any enrichment. When bedding was available, the percentage of total time devoted to exploration increased linearly with average space per pig. An increase in the percentage of time devoted to floor investigation, independent of the presence or absence of bedding, was described when increasing the kvalue in the presence of enrichment objects. It was also found that, in the absence of enrichment objects, pigs showed more interest in the other pen objects, and that the percentage of time devoted to exploration increased with the k‐value in the presence of bedding.
These results confirm the beneficial effect of enrichment on the behaviour of pigs, as well as the existence of interactions between physical environment and enrichment. Conceivably, this could lead to a better method of evaluating the impact of production systems on the welfare of pigs.
A higher inter‐study variability was confirmed for the k‐value and for the different behaviours studied. A progressive decrease in the percentage of time spent lying and sitting was found when k‐value increased, independent of the presence or absence of any enrichment. When bedding was available, the percentage of total time devoted to exploration increased linearly with average space per pig. An increase in the percentage of time devoted to floor investigation, independent of the presence or absence of bedding, was described when increasing the kvalue in the presence of enrichment objects. It was also found that, in the absence of enrichment objects, pigs showed more interest in the other pen objects, and that the percentage of time devoted to exploration increased with the k‐value in the presence of bedding.
These results confirm the beneficial effect of enrichment on the behaviour of pigs, as well as the existence of interactions between physical environment and enrichment. Conceivably, this could lead to a better method of evaluating the impact of production systems on the welfare of pigs.