Enrichment devices for undocked heavy pigs: effects on animal welfare, blood parameters and production traits

AbstractTwo independent trials were carried out to test the effectiveness of different environmental enrichments in improving Italian heavy pigs’ welfare. Eighty undocked Landrace × Large White barrows (body weight range: 27.1–158.4 kg) were used. In Trial 1, group C1 received a metal chain and group WL wooden logs (placed inside a specifically designed metal rack). In trial two, the enrichments proposed were a hanging chain (C2), and a vegetal edible block (EB) inside the metal rack. General health, animal behaviour, hair cortisol, blood parameters and growth performance were recorded. In Trial 1, WL pigs interacted with the enrichment at a lower extent than C1 (p < .01) and walked less (p < .05). In Trial 2, EB pigs spent less time in lateral recumbency and rooting/exploring the pen floor (p < .05 and p < .01, respectively), and interacted more with the enrichment (p < .001) than C2. Motivation to explore both WL and EB was maintained over time, conversely to what happened to C1 and C2. No differences w...