Frequency of occupation with different simultaneously offered devices by fattening pigs kept in pens with or without straw |
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| Authors: | Anne Elkmann Steffen Hoy |
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| Institution: | aDepartment of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus Liebig University, Bismarckstraße 16, D-35390 Giessen, Germany |
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| Abstract: | The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent different occupational devices (pendular beam, cross of chains or lifting beam) offered simultaneously were used by one or more pigs kept in pens with or without straw during the fattening period. The data were obtained in four fattening periods. In every round four pens with nine animals each were available, two of them had a solid concrete floor and were littered with straw the other two had a partially slatted floor without any straw. At three stages during each fattening period the behaviour of the pigs was video-recorded for 24 h and their use of each occupational tool was analysed second-wise.In both housing systems the cross of chains was used longer for occupation than the other devices. The pendular beam was used least of all. All three devices could have been used by more than one pig at the same time, but the cross of chains was used longer by two to four pigs simultaneously than the others. It was observed that pigs in pens without straw used the cross of chains and the lifting beam significantly (p < 0.05) longer than the pigs in the pens with straw.All three devices are suitable to enrich a housing system without any litter. Especially a cross of chains allows the pigs to perform their explorational behaviour. |
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| Keywords: | Fattening pigs Enrichment Occupational devices Behaviour Engagement |
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