Farmer’s guide to different enrichment types for pigs
It is a legal requirement that all pigs in the UK are provided with some form of environmental enrichment.
Research has found when pigs are happy and less frustrated they are less likely to carry out undesirable behaviours, such as tail biting.
Every year £3.5m is lost in the UK pig industry through tail biting. And to try and prevent this it’s important to prevent pigs being bored.
See the top tips on selecting the right enrichment tool, the comparison of enrichment types and enrichment advice below. Information provided by AHDB Pork.
Read more: Pigglet management – birth to Weaning
Learn MoreTop tips on selecting the right tool
1. Novelty
It’s the novelty factor that really engages pigs. If you supply enrichment in the form of objects then you may need to use more than one type and change it regularly, or present it in a different way.
2. Level of engagement
If less than 50% of pigs are engaging with the object or substrate then it needs changing.
3. Keep it simple
Simple objects can often work well.
4. Keep it clean
Objects that gets soiled or dirty will be less interesting to pigs. It’s important to observe what the engagement is with the enrichment.
5. Easy upkeep
Make sure that they can be easily cleaned and also easily changed.
6. Take care
6. Take care
Caution should be taken when using various forms of enrichment. For example, beware when using mushroom compost as that can carry bacteria and other micro-organisms.
Railway sleepers may also carry some toxins, as can recycled shredded paper as it can carry print toxins.
Root vegetables are a good source of enrichment, but remember parsnips can be toxic to pigs. And when using wood, it shouldn’t be treated and should be size appropriate for the pig and not be able to fit through slats otherwise it will block up the system.
Read more: Preventing Pigglet exposure to disease
7. Bedding
In housing, where bedding materials cannot be provided as a source of enrichment, then other enrichment materials and objects should be provided.
8. Slatted floors
AHDB Pork suggests object-based enrichments are best suited for pigs in systems on slatted floors.
9. Variety
Use two or more enrichments at any one time.
Type of enrichments
The AHDB Pork Real Welfare scheme assessed 5,463,348 pigs between 2013 and 2016 and noted the following enrichments:
60.8% had access to straw
2.5% other substrate
16.4 chain without attached object
21.4% plastic object
7.1% other object
1.7% no enrichment seen
Read more: Biosecurity of pigs and farm security
Enrichment types compared
Definition of ratings
Optimal will provide all the enrichment requirements of a pig – it is manipulable, edible, investigable and chewable. No additional enrichment is required.
Suboptimal meets almost all of the above, but not quite
Marginal meets on or two criteria, such as manipulable or chewable, but will need supplementing with an optimal or suboptimal enrichment type.
Straw
Rating Optimal (when used as bedding)
Pros
When provided in racks it is easy to access and can easily be refilled by staff
It is edible, chewable and manipulable
Cons
In high temperatures, lots of straw could increase the risk of heat stress so areas of no straw may need to be provided
It is costly
A tray may need to be placed under the rack to prevent straw affecting the slurry system
Can be time-consuming to replenish
When provided in racks it becomes difficult to investigate
Advice
Refill regularly
Keep clean and dry
Cost
High
£60/t
Vegetation
Rating Optimal
Pros
Edible, investigable and manipulable
Can be provided on its own
Plays a role in physical comfort and thermal regulation
Cons
May require replenishing twice daily
Significant time and cost associated with use
Can only be used in outdoor systems or indoor if pigs are housed on straw
Advice
Provide enough to avoid competition
In high temperatures, it can increase the risk of heat stress so areas of no substrate may need to be provided
Cost
Fresh wood
Rating Sub-optimal
Pros
This can be added in the pen in various ways – either suspended by a chain or left on the floor
Chewable and manipulable
It can also be put into a holding tube with commercial products available
Cons
Not always edible and investigable
Some wood may cause damage to pigs
Advice
The size of wood blocks should be proportional to the size of pigs
Enough pieces should be provided to avoid competition between pigs
It is important to ensure wood is not dried or splintered
Wood pieces should be large enough so they don’t fall down slats and damage slurry equipment
Yew is poisonous to pigs so this should be avoided.
Cost
Low
Paper or cardboard
Rating Suboptimal
Pros
Chewable, manipulable and may be edible
Cardboard can be used as sheets or a box can be provided on the floor
Paper can be provided in shredded format or as sheets
Cons
May not be suitable for slats as they could clog up slurry systems
Needs to be complemented with edible and investigable material as it is not investigable
Advice
Enough must be provided to avoid competition
Make sure there are no print toxins on paper especially when using recycled material
Cost
Low-medium
Root vegetables
Rating Suboptimal
Pros
Edible, chewable, investigable and manipulable
Can be provided lose or in a rack
Cons
May require a lot depending on numbers
Can affect rationing
Needs replacing regularly
Don’t use parsnips as they are poisonous to pigs
Cost
Variable depending on the season but can be quite expensive
Footballs, wellies and plastic toys
Rating Suboptimal
Pros
Minimal installation in terms of time and cost
Chewable and manipulable
Cons
Not edible or investigable
If presented loosely in a pen toys can become soiled quickly and reduce interest
Advice
Never introduce dirty wellies as this can transmit disease and be a health risk to pigs
Presenting objects in different ways can extend the novelty of it
Provide enough to prevent competition
Should be complemented by optimal or another sub-optimal enrichment
Cost
Low-medium
Commercial toys range from pennies to £25
Rope (sisal or hemp)
Rating Suboptimal
Pros
Easy to install and can be suspended or wrapped around pen fittings
Knots can be added to increase complexity and make it more difficult for pigs to break bits off
Cons
Ropes that break off can pass through slats and intervene with slurry systems
Edible and of limited investigable quality
Advice
Provide enough to prevent competition
Should be complemented by edible and investigable material
Cost
Low cost
Strong hosepipe
Rating Marginal
Pros
Easy to attach as can be wound around the bars of gates and suspended or fixed to pen walls
Chewable and manipulable
Cons
Must be changed regularly to try and maintain pigs’ interest
Not easily investigable
Advice
Enough hosepipe should be provided to prevent competition
Should be thick enough so it cannot pass through slats
Should be complemented by optimal or suboptimal enrichment
Cost
Low
Enrichment checks
When choosing enrichment make sure it is:
Safe
Sanitary
Suspended
Soft
Simple
How to recognise insufficient enrichment
Signs of insufficient enrichment could include:
More aggressive behaviour directed at pen-mates. This can include fighting or chewing and ear, flank or vulva biting
Excessive drinking or chewing on nipple drinkersBiting or chewing at pen fittings
Biting or chewing at pen fittings
Unsettled pigs
Increased noise
Enrichment needs
Pig enrichment should fulfil the following:
Edible or feed-like so pigs can eat or smell them, preferably with some nutritional benefit
Chewable so pigs can bite them and also provides information on taste/odour
Investigable so pigs can investigate them, allowing pigs to root with their snout
Manipulable or deformable so that pigs can change their location, appearance or structure
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