Giuliotti Lorella, Benvenuti Maria Novella, Giannarelli Alessandro, Mariti Chiara, Gazzano Angelo
Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge, 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
Animals (Basel). 2019 Mar 19;9(3):101. doi: 10.3390/ani9030101.
(1) Background: Pigs are active animals that require a suitable environment to be able to express their exploratory behaviour. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of different environmental enrichments on the behaviour, social interactions, salivary cortisol concentration and body weight of pigs during the growing phase. (2) Methods: The investigation involved 75 pigs divided into three groups. The environmental enrichments were arranged as follows: Hanging metal chains for the control group; hanging metal chains and hanging logs for the second group; hanging metal chains and logs laying on the floor for the third group. Each group was video recorded twice a week for six weeks. The scan sampling technique was used. Salivary cortisol and live body weight were also recorded regularly. Parametric (ANOVA) and non-parametric statistics were used to analyse the data. (3) Results: Hanging logs were found to be more effective than logs laying on the floor at reducing aggression within the group tested, resulting in a more comfortable environment. Salivary cortisol concentration and growth did not show significant differences between the three groups. (4) Conclusions: The use of hanging logs affected some interactive patterns that resulted in decreasing the aggressive episodes of pigs, thereby providing a more comfortable environment.
(1) 背景：猪是活跃的动物，需要适宜的环境才能表现出其探索行为。本研究的目的是比较不同环境富集方式对生长阶段猪的行为、社交互动、唾液皮质醇浓度和体重的影响。(2) 方法：该调查涉及75头猪，分为三组。环境富集设置如下：对照组为悬挂金属链；第二组为悬挂金属链和悬挂原木；第三组为悬挂金属链和放置在地面的原木。每组每周录像两次，共六周。采用扫描取样技术。还定期记录唾液皮质醇和活体体重。使用参数统计（方差分析）和非参数统计分析数据。(3) 结果：发现在测试组中，悬挂原木在减少群体内攻击行为方面比放置在地面的原木更有效，从而营造出更舒适的环境。三组之间唾液皮质醇浓度和生长情况未显示出显著差异。(4) 结论：使用悬挂原木影响了一些互动模式，导致猪的攻击事件减少，从而提供了更舒适的环境。
