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Responses to multiple chain enrichment in post weaned pigs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2017

H C Benton
Affiliation:
Writtle College, Chelmsford, Essex, United Kingdom
E C L Bleach*
Affiliation:
Writtle College, Chelmsford, Essex, United Kingdom
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Extract

The social stressors associated with the abrupt weaning process on commercial farms can result in significant welfare issues for pigs; including behavioural problems and aggression, decreased immunological responses, reduced live weight gain and efficiency of feed conversion (van de Weerd and Day, 2008). Slats and slurry systems in commercial housing systems for grower pigs provide a barren environment which may exacerbate these problems. Enriched environments have been shown to reduce aggression in pigs, particularly where devices that have manipulative and destructive properties are used (Scott et al, 2007). However, studies often include a single device that does not permit all animals to interact with the enrichment at any one time. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of multiple metal chain enrichment on levels of aggression in growing pigs.

Type
Theatre Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2009

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References

Gallios, M., Le Cozer, Y. and Prunier, A. 2005. Preventive veterinary Medicine 69, 13–23.Google Scholar
Scott, K., Taylor, L., Gill, B. and Edwards, S. 2007. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 105, 51–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van de Weerd, H.A. and Day, J.E.L. 2008. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, in press.Google Scholar