Pig

Influence of social status on the welfare of growing pigs housed in barren and enriched environments

Environmental enrichment [rooting area, straw area] may improve the welfare of growing pigs with low social status. But environmental enrichment did not negate the effect of low social status on injury levels.

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: Pig

Citation: O'Connell, N. E., Beattie, V. E., Moss, B. W. 2004. Influence of social status on the welfare of growing pigs housed in barren and enriched environments. Animal Welfare 13, 425-431.

Behavioural, endocrine and immune consequences of mixing in weaned piglets

Mixing piglets at weaning increases plasma cortisol concentrations and agonistic behaviour. In contrast to what is observed in older pigs, studies failed to show any effect of social environment on other behavioural variables or on immune function. The lack of...

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: Pig

Citation: Merlot, E., Meunier-Salaün, M.-C., Prunier, A. 2004. Behavioural, endocrine and immune consequences of mixing in weaned piglets . Applied Animal Behaviour Science 85, 247-257.

Environmental enrichment for laboratory animals

Includes regulatory compliance, program development and management, common environmental enrichment strategies, program assessment and monitoring. A key component to the enrichment program development is the understanding of the natural behavior and habitat of each species housed in the animal facility....

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General, Baboon, Capuchin, Cat, Chimpanzee, Chinchilla, Dog, Ferret, Gerbil, Gibbon, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Mole Rat, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Other Rodent, Owl Monkey, Pig, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent, Sheep, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Stewart, K. L. , Bayne, K. 2004. Environmental enrichment for laboratory animals. In: Laboratory Animal Medicine and Management. Reuter, J. D. , Suckow, M. A. (Eds). International Veterinary Information Service, Ithaca, New York.

The effect of environmental manipulation on behavior, salivary cortisol, and growth of piglets weaned at 14 days of age

Environmental enrichment [hanging rope and rubber tire tube] results in less anomalous behaviour, reduced fear response to humans and better growth. Environmental enrichment did not affect salivary cortisol.

Year Published: 2004Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Rodarte, L. F., Ducoing, A., Galindo, F. 2004. The effect of environmental manipulation on behavior, salivary cortisol, and growth of piglets weaned at 14 days of age. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 7, 171-179.

Housing, care and environmental factors

General discussion on husbandry and regulatory issues pertaining to the housing and care of laboratory animals.

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: All/General, Dog, Guinea Pig, Marmoset, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Pig, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hansen, A. K. , Baumans, V. 2004. Housing, care and environmental factors. In: The Welfare of Laboratory Animals. Kaliste, E. (ed), 37-50. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.

Behavioural development of pigs with different coping characteristics in barren and substrate-enriched housing conditions

Housing environment markedly influenced behaviour of pigs. Barren housed pigs were less active, showed less explorative and play behaviour, and spent more time on oral activities directed at pen mates than pigs from enriched housing. HR [high-resisting] pigs showed more...

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Pig

Citation: Bolhuis, E. J., Schouten, W. G. P., Schrama, J. W. et al. 2005. Behavioural development of pigs with different coping characteristics in barren and substrate-enriched housing conditions . Applied Animal Behaviour Science 93, 213-228.

Plastic bottle and chain make effective swine enrichment tool

The swine were quite aggressive with the bottles, which required frequent replacement.

Year Published: 2005Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Jackson, L. 2005. Plastic bottle and chain make effective swine enrichment tool. Tech Talk [The Newsletter for Laboratory Animal Science Technicians] 9(4), 5.

Expert opinion regarding environmental enrichment materials for pigs

89% of 53 pig welfare scientists stated that providing a chain was not sufficient, while 84% stated that the provision of straw could be sufficient for pigs in pens.

Year Published: 2006Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Bracke, M. B. M. 2006. Expert opinion regarding environmental enrichment materials for pigs. Animal Welfare 15, 67-70.

Formalised review of environmental enrichment for pigs in relation to political decision making

The EC Directive 2001/93/EC states that: Pigs must have permanent access to a sufficient quantity of material to enable proper investigation and manipulation activities, such as straw, hay, wood, sawdust, mushroom compost, peat or a mixture of such, which does...

Year Published: 2006Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Regulations & Ethical ReviewAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Bracke, M. B. M., Zonderland, J. J., Lenskens, P. et al. 2006. Formalised review of environmental enrichment for pigs in relation to political decision making . Applied Animal Welfare Science 97, 165-182 .

The use of operant conditioning of Göttingen minipigs for topical safety studies

Defined protocols were used to train naive minipigs to approach handlers, follow a target stick, walk onto a scale for weighing, and stand still for physical examinations, electrocardiography, and dermal dosing. Training was conducted with minimal physical handling using only...

Year Published: 2006Animal Type: Pig

Citation: Blye, R., Burke, R., James, C. et al. 2006. The use of operant conditioning of Göttingen minipigs for topical safety studies. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 153-154 (Abstract).