Huntsberry Mary E, Charles Debbie, Adams Kristina M, Weed James L
SoBran, Inc., and Division of Veterinary Resources, Office of Research Services, NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD.
Lab Anim (NY). 2008 Sep;37(9):411-4. doi: 10.1038/laban0908-411.
Providing research pigs with enrichment objects can encourage species-typical behavior such as rooting and foraging. The authors gave pigs hard plastic 'foraging balls' that resembled enrichment devices commonly used for nonhuman primates. Holes were custom-drilled into the balls, and animal caretakers filled them with palatable food items such as jellybeans, unsalted peanuts, cereal, Beggin' Strips, primate biscuits and dog biscuits. Staff members suspended the balls from chains in pigs' enclosures, ensuring that toys did not touch the floor. All pigs manipulated the balls and were able to obtain treats that were supplemental to their standard diet. The simple and effective enrichment device was easily incorporated into the daily routines of research facilities, with little disruption to schedules.
为实验用猪提供丰富化物品可以激发诸如拱地和觅食等该物种典型的行为。作者给猪提供了硬塑料“觅食球”，这些球类似于常用于非人类灵长类动物的丰富化装置。在球上专门钻了孔，动物饲养员往里面装入美味的食物，如软糖、无盐花生、谷物、牛肉条、灵长类动物饼干和狗饼干。工作人员将球用链子悬挂在猪的围栏里，确保玩具不接触地面。所有的猪都对球进行了摆弄，并能够获取到作为其标准饮食补充的食物。这种简单而有效的丰富化装置很容易融入研究机构的日常工作中，对日程安排几乎没有干扰。
