engleski

Display of stereotypies in gilts kept in rubber floor individual stalls

Stereotypies are repetitive, relatively invariable sequences of nonfunctional behaviors that potentially indicate reduced welfare. Restrictive and barren housing conditions in pig production affect the probability of breeding females developing stereotypies. In order to reduce these behaviors, enrichment of their environment is emphasized. In the present study, display of stereotypies in gilts kept in individual stalls with concrete floor enriched with rubber mats was investigated. The study was conducted in service unit at a pig breeding farm in autumn and included 28 gilts kept in individual stalls with slatted concrete floor for 28 days, a period that breeding females are kept in individual stalls post-mating. The gilts were divided into two groups of 14 animals. Group 1 gilts served as controls and were left untreated. In group 2, the stall floor was covered with 2-cm rubber mat, adjusted to the stall size and floor perforations. Stereotypy display was monitored on days 1, 8, 15 and 28 post-mating using the procedure described elsewhere. The significance of difference in the percentage of gilts displaying stereotypies between the experimental and control groups according to days post-mating was determined by V2 test. In control group, the percentage of gilts displaying stereotypies increased continuously with time, being several times higher on day 28 as compared with day 1. In experimental group, this percentage increased until day 15. On day 28, the experimental group gilts displayed stereotypies significantly less than control group gilts (P<0.05). The use of rubber mats in individual gilt housing in the first 28 days post-mating proved efficient in reducing stereotypy display.

pig; stereotypy; rubber flooring

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