Tail biting is a behavioural problem that impacts pig welfare and the economics of pork production. Environmental enrichment can reduce damaging behaviours, but practical information on enrichments for young pigs is lacking. The project contained two studies to evaluate enrichment at two life stages to identify whether early, late, or continuous enrichment is most effective. In Study 1 pigs at 4 to 8 weeks of age were provided one of four different enrichment treatments. Results confirmed that pigs prefer enrichment objects that are destructible, deformable, and chewable. Burlap strips produced the highest level of piglet interaction, but had to be replaced frequently, resulting in increased labour and material costs. Newsprint was consumed rapidly, but provoked more play behaviour than all treatments except burlap. Study 2 will examine the long-term effect of early vs late enrichment with scented newspaper on pig growth and the development of damaging behaviour.
Effective piglet enrichment: effects on development and reduction of damaging behaviours (full article)
