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ISSN : 1225-2964(Print)
ISSN : 2287-3317(Online)
Annals of Animal Resource Sciences Vol.34 No.3 pp.81-88
DOI : https://doi.org/10.12718/AARS.2023.34.3.81

The Effects of Toy as Environmental Enrichment on Growth Performance and Behaviour in Weanling Pigs

Seung Min Oh1, Jin Soo Kim2*
1Researcher, Gyeongsangbuk-do Livestock Research Institue, Yeongju 36052, Korea
2Professor, College of Animal Life Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
* Corresponding author: Jin Soo Kim, Animal Industry Convergence Major, College of Animal Life Science, Kangwon university, Chuncheon 24341, Korea. Tel: +82-33-250-8614, E-mail: kjs896@kangwon.ac.kr

Abstract

We aimed to investigate the effect of environmental enrichment via toys on the behaviour and performance of weanling pigs. A total of 300 pigs (LYD) were housed in different pens with ten pigs per replicate and ten pigs per head divided into 3 groups. Group 1 was called “CON” and received no toys, group 2 was TOY-2, and pigs in this group had access to toys in the first 2 weeks, and lastly, pigs in TOY-4 were given toys in the fourth week. The pigs had access to feed and water ad-libitum. The individual pig behaviours in each group was recorded on days 14 and 28 (d 14 and 28) with a video camera for accuracy. The results showed higher (p<0.05) overall ADG in TOY-4 compared with CON, while the overall ADFI was higher (p<0.05) in TOY-supplemented groups compared to CON. Diarrhea incidence and fecal score were lower on D 14 in TOY-supplemented groups compared with CON. Behavioural features such as ear biting and fighting were lower (p<0.05) in TOY-supplemented groups compared with CON on D 14. Tail biting was lower (p<0.05) in TOY-2 compared with CON at D 14. Conversely, at D 28, tail biting was lower (p<0.05) in TOY-4 compared with CON. The ADG improved due to the toy supplied to reduce undesirable social behaviours. We concluded that the environmental enrichment of pens with toys can help to improve the welfare in weaning pigs, leading to a greater survivability and more production thereby improving farmer incomes.

이유자돈 복지 증진을 위한 장난감 제공이 성장 및 행동에 미치는 영향

오승민1, 김진수2*
경상북도 축산기술연구소 연구원1, 강원대학교 동물생명과학대학 교수2

초록

 

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