Rodarte CLF, Trujillo OME, Doporto DJM, Galindo MFA

Language: English/Spanish
References: 16
Page: 375-380
PDF size: 298.52 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Early weaning of piglets is a common practice in the pig industry; however, this type of management can be related to behavioral and welfare problems. Environmental enrichment can be a useful tool to diminish some of these problems; nevertheless, there is no information about the effect of environmental manipulation on the welfare of piglets weaned at 14 days of age. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of environmental enrichment on aggression, latency and productivity of piglets weaned at 14 days of age. A total of 112 hybrid piglets were assigned into four treatments: T1, control; T2, physic barrier; T3, ropes/tire tube; and T4, combination of T2 and T3. The piglets were observed during 192h divided in three observation periods: 14-27 days, 28-41 days, and 42-53 days. The frequency of aggression (FA), the latency of approaching to a person (LA), and the daily weight gain (DWG) were compared between treatments and between stages. FA and LA were higher in T1 (P ‹ 0.05) than in the other three groups. LA decreased in all treatments (P ‹ 0.05). FA decreased in T3 and T4 (P ‹ 0.05). T4 had the higher DWG (P ‹ 0.001). Environmental manipulation in piglets weaned at 14 days of age decreased the incidence of abnormal behaviors and can have a positive effect on welfare and productivity.

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