Effect of play structures on behavior and productivity of young pigs
Abstract
Pigs have very complex behaviors and form cooperative social groups. To implement their own natural behavior, they spend up to 40% of time looking for tasty food in the soil, in particular roots, larvae and even truffles. The aim of the research is to evaluate the effect of toys on the behavior and performance of piglets. The experiment was carried out with weaned piglets in the amount of 120 animals, at the age of 28 days, which were distributed according to the principle of analogues into two groups of 60 pigs each: I - control group, animals were housed with no toys; II - experimental group, animals were housed with toys. During the experiment, the timing of behavioral acts was carried out, and productivity was assessed. As a result of the experiment, it has been determined that availability of toys decreased intragroup aggression, which was accompanied by a decrease in the duration of fights, and almost three times increase in the duration of play behavior. In piglets that had access to toys, the number of cases of biting their tails and ears decreased from 11 to 3 animals. Changes in behavioral patterns among animals of the control and experimental groups led to significant differences in terms of their growth rates, where a significant increase in body weight was noted by 5.4%, which is associated with a significant increase in their average daily weight gain in comparison with animals in the control group. This research shows that when toys are used for piglets at growing, signs of aggression and stereopathy in groups can be avoided, productivity and emotional state can be improved, which affects the welfare of pigs.
About the Authors
A. V. Likhach
National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
V. Y. Likhach
National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
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For citations:
Likhach A.V., Likhach V.Y. Effect of play structures on behavior and productivity of young pigs. Zootechnical Science of Belarus. 2021;56(2):152-159. (In Russ.)
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