Pig

How can we assess positive welfare in ruminants?

Until now, most research has focused on the development of indicators of negative welfare, and relatively few studies provide information on valid, reliable, and feasible indicators addressing positive aspects of animal welfare. However, a lack of suffering does not guarantee...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Cattle, Chicken, Equine, Fowl, Goat, Pig, Sheep

Citation: Mattiello, S., Battini, M., De Rosa, G. et al. 2019. How can we assess positive welfare in ruminants? Animals 9(10), 758.

The effects of environmental enrichment on the physiology, behaviour, productivity and meat quality of pigs raised in a hot climate

Some positive effects regarding the use of enrichment material on the stimulation of pig exploration and a reduction in redirected behaviour was reported. This study aims to evaluate the effects of four enrichment materials on the behaviour, physiology/health, performance and...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Fàbrega, E., Marcet-Rius, M., Vidal, R. et al. 2019. The effects of environmental enrichment on the physiology, behaviour, productivity and meat quality of pigs raised in a hot climate. Animals 9(5), 235.

Providing effective environmental enrichment to pigs: How far have we come?

Science has defined the characteristics of effective environmental enrichment for pigs. We provide an overview of progress towards the provision of pig enrichment in the three largest global pork producing regions. In the USA, enrichment has not yet featured on...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: van de Weerd, H., Ison, S. 2019. Providing effective environmental enrichment to pigs: How far have we come? Animals 9(5), 254.

Effects of enrichment type, presentation and social status on enrichment use and behaviour of sows with electronic sow feeding

The goal of this study was to identify practical enrichments for sows in partially or fully slatted pen systems. Four treatments were applied: (1) Constant: constant provision of wood on chain; (2) Rotate: rotation of rope, straw and wood enrichments;...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Roy, C., Lippens, L., Kyeiwaa, V. et al. 2019. Effects of enrichment type, presentation and social status on enrichment use and behaviour of sows with electronic sow feeding. Animals 9(6), 369.

Effects of environmental enrichment on pig welfare—A review

Good husbandry conditions on farms is of key importance for assuring animal welfare. One of the most important legal documents regulating the rules of maintaining pigs is the Directive 2008/120/EC, which states that group-housed pigs should have access to litter...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Godyń, D., Nowicki, J., Herbut, P. 2019. Effects of environmental enrichment on pig welfare—A review. Animals 9(6), 383.

Are tail and ear movements indicators of emotions in tail-docked pigs in response to environmental enrichment?

The inclusion of emotional indicators in farm monitoring methods can improve welfare assessments. Studies in controlled conditions have suggested that increased tail movement is an indicator of positive emotions in pigs, while others have proposed that increased ear movements are...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Marcet-Rius, M., Fàbrega, E., Cozzi, A. et al. 2019. Are tail and ear movements indicators of emotions in tail-docked pigs in response to environmental enrichment? Animals 9(7), 449.

Sow-piglet nose contacts in free-farrowing pens

Nose contact is a frequent form of social behaviour in pigs, but the motivational reasons underlying this behaviour remain unclear. We investigated the frequency, direction and type of sow–piglet nosing behaviour and its association with sow and piglet traits. Social...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Portele, K., Scheck, K., Siegmann, S. et al. 2019. Sow-piglet nose contacts in free-farrowing pens. Animals 9(8), 513.

Preference for and behavioural response to environmental enrichment in a small population of sexually mature, commercial boars

An increasing public concern over the welfare of livestock species is motivating more producers to consider changes to production practices. Providing environmental enrichment for intensively housed animals is one such potentially welfare-enhancing change. The goal of environmental enrichment is to...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Sirovica, L. V., Creamer, M., Horback, K. M. 2019. Preference for and behavioural response to environmental enrichment in a small population of sexually mature, commercial boars. Animal Welfare 28(3), 271-278.

Post-natal development of EEG responses to noxious stimulation in pigs (Sus scrofa) aged 1–15 days

This study examined electroencephalographic (EEG) indices of acute nociception in pigs (Sus scrofa) aged 1, 5, 7, 10, 12 and 15 days, post-natal. Ten pigs per age were anaesthetised with halothane in oxygen and maintained at a light plane of...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Body Modification/MutilationAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Kells, N. J., Beausoleil, N. J., Sutherland, M. A. et al. 2019. Post-natal development of EEG responses to noxious stimulation in pigs (Sus scrofa) aged 1–15 days. Animal Welfare 28(3), 317-329.

Effect of slat and gap width of slatted concrete flooring on sow gait using kinematics analysis

The housing of gestating sows in groups requires sound information about the adapted design of the pen floor. Slatted concrete floors are commonly used for effective drainage of manure but can cause feet injuries and lameness. In the present study,...

Year Published: 2019Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Devillers, N., Janvier, E., Delijani, F. et al. 2019. Effect of slat and gap width of slatted concrete flooring on sow gait using kinematics analysis. Animals 9(5), 206.