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Industry Partners
Prairie Swine Centre is an affiliate of the University of Saskatchewan
Prairie Swine Centre is grateful for the assistance of the George Morris Centre in developing the economics portion of Pork Insight.
Financial support for the Enterprise Model Project and Pork Insight has been provided by:
Determining Effective Enrichments for Group Housed Sows
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Prairie Swine Centre, Production by student on June 11, 2018
Modern production practices place limitation on pig’s ability to partake in highly motivated behaviors such as rooting and exploring. Enrichment allows changes to occur that are intended to increase the range of normal behaviors ultimately improving the biological functioning and well-being of the animal. In Canada, the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of pigs requires the provision of enrichment. When looking at slatted concrete pens there is a lack of effective environmental enrichment options for sows. In this study it was concluded that when enrichment was rotated (Rotation and Stimulus treatments) sows spent more time near enrichments and were more active than when Constant enrichment or Control treatments were provided. Based on this initial analysis the sound stimulus appeared to have no significant effect. Although the straw enrichment produced the greatest response, sows also made use of rope and wood on chain enrichments, and no adverse effects were found for sows or manure management indicating their suitability as enrichment materials for group-housed sows.
Determining Effective Enrichments for Group Housed Sows – 2017