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The influence of environmental enrichment on behaviour, performance and meat quality of domestic pigs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

V.E. Beattie ,
N.E. O'Connell  and
B.W. Moss
V.E. Beattie
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough, Co. Down BT26 6DR, Northern Ireland
N.E. O'Connell
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough, Co. Down BT26 6DR, Northern Ireland
B.W. Moss
Affiliation:
Dept. of Food Science, The Queens University of Belfast, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX, Northern Ireland
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Extract

Environmental enrichment using substrates changes the behaviour of pigs by increasing the time spent exploring the environment and reducing the amount of penmate-directed behaviour (Beattie et al., 1995). The objective of the present study was to assess whether performance and meat quality are also affected by environmental enrichment.

In a randomised block design, three-hundred and twenty Large White x Landrace pigs were allocated to one of two environmental treatments from birth to slaughter. Five blocks were used, each containing eight groups of eight pigs. In each block, four groups were reared in barren environments which had slatted floors and recommended space allowances.

Type
Programme
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science , Volume 1999 , 1999 , pp. 192
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 1999

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References

Barton-Gade, P.A. 1987. Meat and fat quality in boars, castrates and gilts. Livestock Production Science 16: 187–196.Google Scholar
Beattie, V.E., Walker, N. and Sneddon, I.A. 1995. Effects of environmental enrichment on behaviour and productivity of growing pigs. Animal Welfare 4: 207–220.Google Scholar