The importance of environmental enrichment in swine production

Abstract

The use of environmental enrichment can financially benefit the swine industry. In addition to improving the welfare of the pigs, it can also increase productivity and income for the farmers. A pig directive has been implemented in 2003 demanding the use of straw in pig enclosures and deeming tail docking as an inhumane procedure. Since farmers do not see the advantages to adhering to the directive, most have ignored the laws. The use of environmental enrichment in swine enclosures is not only a necessary element to raising pigs, but it also serves as a benefit to the swine industry as a whole. Environmental enrichment promotes the mental health of pigs and as a consequence contributes to their physical well-being. By making the environment offer the pigs the ability to engage in more natural behaviors, we can decrease the amount of abnormal and harmful behaviors exhibited by pigs living in intensive farming units. We compare several scientific bodies of work to prove the importance of environmental enrichment in swine production.