Browsing by Subject "Environmental enrichment"

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Environmental enrichment in intensive production systems for farm animals
(2010) Jordan, Dušanka; Bessei, Werner
Barren and space restricted environment of intensive production systems thwarts the expression of numerous behavioural patterns due to inadequate stimulation. Consequently, animals may develop various abnormal and damaging behaviours or may be in general less active, which contributes to the expression of leg disorders, especially in fast growing animals. These problems may be alleviated with appropriate environmental enrichment, therefore the objective of the thesis was to elucidate the appropriateness of selected environmental enrichments in fattening pigs, growing rabbits, laying hens and fast growing broilers. For this purpose, four studies were conducted. In the first study we wanted to examine the effect of small amount of straw or hay (100 g per animal per day) laid daily in a rack on the behaviour, growth rate and carcass composition of fattening pigs of both sexes (castrated males, females) housed in slatted floor pens. In the second study we studied the influence of gnawing sticks made of Norway spruce (Picea abies) on the behaviour of male growing rabbits (Slovenian sire line SIKA for meat production) housed individually in wire-mesh cages. The third study included laying hens with enhanced diet complexity ? instead of only one, hens were fed two diets in sequence. We studied the effect of sequential feeding with wheat on the behaviour, feed intake, feather condition and egg production of non beak-trimmed ISA Brown laying hens housed in standard cages (five birds/cage). The birds were allotted to one of four treatments. The control (C) was fed a conventional complete diet. Three treatments were fed sequentially with whole wheat (SWW), ground wheat (SGW) or ground wheat with a vitamin premix, phosphorus and oil (SGWI). In sequential treatments, 50% of the ration was fed as wheat from 9:00 to 16:00 o?clock and the remaining 50% as a protein-mineral concentrate (balancer diet) from 16:00 to 9:00 o?clock. In the fourth study we examined the effect of environmental enrichment on foraging behaviour, locomotor activity, growth and feed conversion of fast growing broilers (Ross 308). Animals were allotted to three treatments. The control birds (C) were fed with pellets in a trough, the W birds received additionally to pellets in a trough a small quantity of whole wheat scattered twice a day in the litter. In the P treatment the trough was removed at 14 days of age and feed pellets were scattered in the litter five times a day. Environmental enrichment of fattening pigs with small amount of hay or straw increased the proportion of time animals were active on account of increased occupation with substrate. However, increased proportion of total activity was noticed only in females, which also spent more time chewing substrate than castrated males. Both substrates significantly reduced time spent biting pen bars and the frequency of aggressive encounters. Neither hay nor straw negatively influenced pigs? growth rate and lean meat percentage, whereas sex of the animals significantly influenced both traits. Females grew slower and had greater lean meat percentage than castrated males. In contrast to fattening pigs, environmental enrichment had almost no influence on the behaviour of growing rabbits. Gnawing sticks made of Norway spruce did not attract much of rabbits? interest and significantly influenced only the duration of feeding by 2.08 ± 0.87%. In laying hens, SWW birds spent less time feeding and stood still longer compared to birds in other treatments when fed wheat based diet. This influenced the occurrence of feather pecking, because four hours after distribution of wheat diets, feather pecking was the highest in the SWW and the lowest in the SGW treatment. Consequently, the poorest feather condition was recorded in the SWW treatment. Total feed intake was the highest in the C treatment, while birds ate greater amount of balancer diet compared to wheat based diets. In fast growing broilers, the environmental enrichment with scattered whole wheat (W) did not influence any of the observed behaviour. However, scattering feed pellets in the litter (P) significantly decreased time spent lying in the third and fourth week of age. From the third week onwards, P birds also spent more time walking, scratching and pecking compared to the C and W birds. In feed intake, feed conversion and growth rate there was no difference between the C and W treatment, whereas birds in the P treatment grew significantly slower, which resulted in 13% lower slaughter weight. To conclude, small amount of hay and straw proved to be an appropriate and inexpensive environmental enrichment for fattening pigs in intensive housing systems, which improved their welfare. The addition of wooden sticks for gnawing demonstrated to be an unsuitable environmental enrichment for growing rabbits. Sequential feeding with wheat had a detrimental effect on laying hens? behaviour and feather condition when used with whole wheat. Therefore, wheat should be used either grounded or perhaps presented in shorter time periods. In fast growing broilers, scattering feed pellets in the litter proved to be a promising method to enhance broilers? activity and thus to improve their welfare. However, further research is needed to be able to avoid reduction in body weight at slaughter age.