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The development of harmful social behaviour in pigs with intact tails and different enrichment backgrounds in two housing systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

H. A. Van de Weerd ,
C. M. Docking ,
J. E. L. Day  and
S. A. Edwards
H. A. Van de Weerd*
Affiliation:
University of Newcastle, School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, King George VI Building, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
C. M. Docking
Affiliation:
ADAS Pig Research Unit, Terrington St Clement, King's Lynn, Norfolk PE34 4PW, UK
J. E. L. Day
Affiliation:
ADAS Pig Research Unit, Terrington St Clement, King's Lynn, Norfolk PE34 4PW, UK
S. A. Edwards
Affiliation:
University of Newcastle, School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, King George VI Building, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
*
E-mail: heleen.vandeweerd@adas.co.uk
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Abstract

The present study compared the performance and development of adverse behaviours of pigs with intact tails, when housed in a straw-bedded system or a part-slatted system enriched with a commercial device. The pigs had previously received different enrichment treatments (rooting box, liquid dispenser, straw bedding or none), either in the farrowing crate or with their lactating dam or post weaning. The pigs were mixed in groups at 10 weeks of age and from then on, every 2 weeks, behavioural observations were performed, focusing mainly on harmful social behaviour and enrichment use. The study showed that pigs with undocked tails can be at high risk of tail biting in part-slatted systems, whereas the straw bedding prevented the development of tail biting. The immediate effects of the environment seemed to exert a greater influence on the development of adverse behaviour than early life enrichment and adding a simple enrichment device could not compensate for the deficiencies in the barren environment of the part-slatted system. In order to prevent vice, functional design of environmental enrichment is required.

Keywords

behaviourenrichmentpigstail biting
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 80 , Issue 3 , June 2005 , pp. 289 - 298
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2005

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Footnotes

†Pig and Poultry Research Group, ADAS Gleadthorpe, Meden Vale, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG20 9PF, UK.

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