RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
A1 Hwang, Hyun-Su
A1 Lee, Jae-Kang
A1 Eom, Tae-Kyung
A1 Lee, Dong-Ho
A1 Rhim, Shin-Jae
T1 Effect of toys on behaviour and body weight of weaned pigs after mixing
JF Czech Journal of Animal Science
YR 2021
VO 66
IS 8
SP 323
OP 330
DO 10.17221/22/2021-CJAS
UL https://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/cjs-202108-0004.php
AB This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a toy on the behaviour and body weight of weaned pigs after mixing. Two groups (192 pigs in total, control: without toy; treatment: with toy placed on the floor) of weaned pigs housed in pens (1.8 m × 1.4 m, 4 pigs/pen) were This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a toy on the behaviour and body weight of weaned pigs after mixing. Two were observed with the aid of video technology for nine consecutive hours in the early (days 1 and 2) and late (days 38 and 39) period after mixing. Bodyweight of pigs at the end of the study (Mann-Whitney U-test, Z = -2.46, P = 0.01) and the average daily gain (Z = -2.75, P < 0.01) were 10% higher in the treatment group than in the control group. The presence of the toy in the pen influenced the pig behaviours. In pens enriched with toys, there was an increase in feeding behaviour and a decrease in agonistic and belly nosing behaviours. Toy supply reduced negative social behaviours and thereby improved the bodyweight of weaned pigs. The results of this study suggest that toys used as environmental enrichment are useful for enhancing pig welfare and effective for farmers.