The enrichment of a bare environment for animals in confined conditions

Abstract

One out of each of 6 balanced paired groups of 8 weaner piglets, held in flat-deck cages for one week, was supplied with a trough containing sterilized earth. The behaviour of the animals in each group was observed by systematic scanning at 2-min intervals for 4 periods of 20 min on each of 3 days, after the piglets had been in the cages for 4 days. In all groups, the piglets with the trough made use of it and the amount of lying inactive was greater in all groups without the trough. In piglets weaned immediately into the experimental cages, the frequency of lying inactive was positively correlated with temperature. It is suggested that enrichment of the bare cage environment by provision of an earth trough resulted in an elaboration of a number of behaviours. This may be interpreted as an indication of reduced boredom.