Flavored sisal ropes as environmental enrichment for nursery piglets

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the behavior of piglets in the nursery phase in the presence of pure sisal ropes, soaked with different flavors as a means of environmental enrichment. Sixty-four piglets with 35 days of age in the nursery phase were used, piglets were randomly distributed in a completely randomized design in 16 pens, with four animals in each pen and there was no separation of pens by group. Three treatments were used: Pure rope (PR) which was considered the control of the pen, rope soaked in vanilla essence and sugar (SV), and rope soaked in coffee (SC). An ethogram was prepared for observations of the following behavioral parameters, eating, drinking, urinating, defecating, lying down, standing, playful, and others. The parameters were measured every 10 minutes in a total of three daily assessments with two hours each for a period of three days. There was a greater preference of piglets for the SV rope with a percentage of 63.2% in the observations of the interactions. A possible justification for the result is the fact that this rope is the most palatable for piglets since piglets prefer sweet tastes. The PR rope aroused curiosity in the piglets, with a percentage of observations of 21.4%. Therefore, the use of equipment flavored with sweet vanilla taste is promising as a means of environmental enrichment, being more interesting to piglets.

Compressed Brown Algae as a Potential Environmental Enrichment Material in Growing Pigs

“…Other bio-sourced objects can be given to pigs to improve their welfare. Sisal rope arouses pig interest [15,16] more than a metal chain [17] and decreases penmate manipulation [18]. Hessian sack, also easy to bite and shake, commonly used for sows before farrowing, are also well used by young pigs and reduce damaging behaviors [19,20].…”

The Neurobiology of Behavior and Its Applicability for Animal Welfare: A Review

“…For example, since piglets are known as very curious species, enrichment programs are easy to implement in these animals. As de Souza et al [ 105 ] have stated, environmental enrichment using flavored sisal ropes (natural, vanilla, and coffee flavors) in 66 piglets with 35 days of age elicited positive reactions, curiosity from the animals (21.4%), and preference values towards the vanilla flavor (63.2%) [ 105 ]. Likewise, in the same species, in 297 fattening piglets, the less fearful reaction, quicker approach latency, and longer duration of contact with different environments, including human contact and novel object exposure, is an element usually associated with good welfare.…”