The aim of this paper is to critically analyse and synthesise existing knowledge concerning the use of environmental enrichment and its effect on behaviour, physiology and performance of pigs housed in intensive production systems. The objective is also to provide clarity as to what constitute successful enrichment and recommend on when and how enrichment should be used. Environmental enrichment is usually understood as an attempt to improve animal welfare and to lesser extent, performance. Common enrichment objects used are straw bedding, suspended rope and wood shavings, toys, rubber tubing, coloured plastic keys, table tennis balls, chains and strings. These substrates need to be chewable, deformable, destructible and ingestible. For enrichment to be successful four goals are the prerequisite. Firstly, enrichment should increase the number and range of normal behaviours (2) prevent the phenomenon of anomalous behaviours or reduce their frequency (3) increase positive use of the environment such as space and (4) increase the ability of the animals to deal with behavioural and physiological challenges. The performance, behaviour and physiology of pigs in enriched environments is similar or in some cases slightly better when compared with barren environments. In studies where there was no improvement, it should be born in mind that enriching the environment may not always be practical and yield positive results due to factors such as type of enrichment substrates, duration of provision and type of enrichment used. The review also identifies possible areas which still need further research, especially in understanding the role of enrichment, novelty, breed differences and other enrichment alternatives.

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Adoption and utilisation of indigenous knowledge (IK) is declining. The objective of the current study was to determine differences in the extent of use of IK to control gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) in goats between wet and dry environments. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Almost all households used IK in controlling parasites. There was a close association among environment, gender, and religion (p < 0.05) on IK use. Farmers who were less poor were 2.38 times more likely to use IK (p > 0.05) than farmers that were poor. Adults were 1.20 more likely to use IK (p < 0.05) than younger people. Unemployed farmers were 4.26 more likely to use IK compared to their employed counter parts (p < 0.01). Having a herbalist in the community was 3.6 times more likely to influence the use of IK (p < 0.05) compared to the environment in which there was no herbalist. Farmers that received informal education in the dry environment were 5.88 times more likely to use IK (p < 0.05) than those in the wet environment. Farmers who practised traditional Zulu culture were 2.05 times more likely to use IK compared to those following the Christian faith (p < 0.05). The considerable variation in the adoption of IK suggests that intervention strategies that advance IK use should consider the socio-demographic information of the community.

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Responses of growth performance, gut morphology, blood biochemistry, and quality of breast meat to varying lengths of water deprivation were assessed. Ninety broilers were randomly allocated to water deprivation treatments, where water was either supplied ad libitum (0 h) or for 30 min at intervals of 6, 12, 18, and 24 h. Average daily feed intake (ADFI) and gain (ADG) were estimated weekly. Six birds from each treatment were randomly slaughtered. The duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were sectioned to determine gut morphology. Breast meat muscles (pectoralis major) were sampled to determine its physicochemical properties. There were linear decreases in ADG (P < 0.01) and ADFI (P < 0.05), crypt depth (P < 0.01) and crypt width (P < 0.05) in the jejunum, villus height (VH) (P < 0.01) and total mucosa thickness (P < 0.05) in the ileum, crude fat (P < 0.05), b*0 (yellowness at 0 h), a*24 (redness at 24 h), and L*24 (lightness at 24 h) (P < 0.01), and aspartate aminotransferase enzyme (P < 0.05) with increases in length of water deprivation. Positive quadratic responses of VH in the duodenum (P < 0.01) and jejunum (P < 0.05) were observed after 7.6 and 19.4 h of water deprivation, respectively. Severe water deprivation periods reduced growth performance, but induced positive growth of VH, suggesting that broilers may adapt to water stress. The appropriate length of water deprivation was 7.64 h.