This paper critically reviews the literature concerning environmental enrichment for weaner, grower and finisher pigs housed in intensive (indoor) production systems. The thesis of the review is that successful enrichment should meet four criteria of success: (1) it should increase species-specific behaviour, (2) it should maintain or improve levels of health, (3) it should improve the economics of the production system, and (4) it should be practical to employ. They review the existing literature for three distinct classes of production systems; alternative enriched systems; straw-based systems, and barren systems enriched only with objects (‘point-source enrichment-objects’). Within each of
these systems, they consider the effects of environmental enrichment on behaviour; health and physiology; animal performance, carcass quality and meat quality.

They conclude that straw has the highest potential to meet the four successful enrichment criteria proposed. However, they concede that it is possible to design successful point-source enrichment-objects if the wealth of knowledge available on enrichment for pigs is exploited. They also identify several knowledge gaps, especially in the area of the neurobiological effects of enrichment, which should be the focus of future research to advance the welfare of intensively reared pigs.

For more information the full article can be found at http://journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/applan/issues