Influence of environmental enrichment on the behaviour, performance and meat quality of domestic pigs

Three hundred and twenty pigs were reared from birth to slaughter at 21 weeks in either barren or enriched environments. The barren environments were defined as intensive housing (slatted floors and minimum recommended space allowances) and the enriched environments incorporated extra space, an area which contained peat and straw in a rack. Behavioural observations showed that environmental enrichment reduced time spent inactive and time spent involved in harmful social and aggressive behaviour while increasing the time spent in exploratory behaviour. During the finishing period (15-21 weeks) mean daily food intakes were higher and food conversion ratios were lower for pigs in enriched environments compared with their counterparts in barren environments (P < 0.05). Growth rates were also higher for pigs in enriched environments during this period (P<0.001) and this led to heavier carcase weights (P<0.05). Pigs from enriched environments also had greater levels of backfat than their counterparts from barren environments (P < 0.001). Environmental enrichment during rearing had a small but significant effect on meat quality. Pork from pigs reared in barren environments was less tender and had greater cooking losses than pork from pigs reared in enriched environments (P < 0.01). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.