Chou Jen-Yun, Drique Constance M V, Sandercock Dale A, D'Eath Rick B, O'Driscoll Keelin
Pig Development Department, Teagasc, P61 P302 Moorepark, Ireland.
Animal & Veterinary Sciences Research Group, SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK.
Animals (Basel). 2019 Apr 2;9(4):139. doi: 10.3390/ani9040139.
In fully slatted systems, tail biting is difficult to manage when pigs' tails are not docked because loose enrichment material can obstruct slurry systems. This pilot study sought to determine: a) whether intact-tailed pigs can be reared with a manageable level of tail biting by using multiple slat-compatible enrichment; b) whether a variation of enrichment has an effect; and c) whether pigs show a preference in enrichment use. Ninety-six undocked pigs were given the same enrichment items from one week after birth until weaning. At weaning, four different combinations of 8 enrichment items were utilized based on predefined characteristics. These were randomly assigned to 8 pens ( = 12 pigs/pen). Four pens had the same combination (SAME) from assignment and four pens switched combinations every two weeks (SWITCH). Individual lesion scores, interactions with the enrichment, and harmful behaviours were recorded. The average tail score during the experiment was low (0.93 ± 0.02). Only one pig in a SAME pen had a severely bitten tail (partly amputated). The overall level of interaction with enrichment did not decline over time. Pigs interacted with a rack of loose material most frequently ( < 0.001). The study showed promising results for rearing undocked pigs on fully slatted floors using slat-compatible enrichment.
在全漏缝地板系统中，如果不对猪进行断尾，当猪尾巴未断尾时，咬尾现象很难控制，因为松散的垫料会阻塞粪便处理系统。这项初步研究旨在确定：a）通过使用多种与漏缝地板兼容的垫料，是否可以在咬尾水平可控的情况下饲养尾巴完整的猪；b）垫料的变化是否有影响；c）猪在使用垫料方面是否有偏好。96头未断尾的仔猪从出生后一周到断奶期间都给予相同的垫料。断奶时，根据预先定义的特征，使用8种垫料的四种不同组合。这些组合被随机分配到8个猪栏（每个猪栏12头猪）。四个猪栏从分配时起就使用相同的组合（相同组），另外四个猪栏每两周更换一次组合（更换组）。记录个体损伤评分、与垫料的互动情况以及有害行为。实验期间的平均尾巴评分较低（0.93±0.02）。只有相同组中的一头猪尾巴被严重咬伤（部分截断）。与垫料的总体互动水平并未随时间下降。猪与一堆松散材料的互动最为频繁（<0.001）。该研究表明，使用与漏缝地板兼容的垫料在全漏缝地板上饲养未断尾的猪有良好的效果。
