In the United States swine industry, preweaning mortality represents the highest mortality rate of any production phase, nearly half attributed to crushing. The overarching aim of this study was to determine if enrichment ropes would entice neonatal piglets away from the sow and reduce preweaning mortality. Rope enrichments were provided to 161 piglets from 26 sows after farrowing. Ropes were dipped in sunflower oil (n = 7), semiochemical (n = 8), or milky cheese (n = 11). Piglet purposeful rope investigations, weight gain, and mortality were recorded. On Day 2, 75% of piglets touched the enrichment at least once, and frequency ranged from 1 to 21 investigations across all treatments. Frequency (p = 0.20) and duration (p = 0.21) of investigations were not affected by treatment. Preweaning litter average weight gain did not differ between treatments (p = 0.71). MC (milky cheese) piglets had the lowest percent mortality when the enrichment ropes were present (Days 2 to 5, p = 0.01), and SC (semiochemical) piglets had the lowest percent mortality after the enrichment ropes were removed (Days 6 to weaning, p < 0.0001). This proof-of-concept study highlights the potential value of neonatal piglet environmental enrichment.

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of a novel nutritional “biscuit” on weaned pig feeder aggression and performance. Eighty mixed-sex pigs, 19 to 24 days of age, were randomly allocated to 8 pens (10 pigs/pen). Pens were assigned 1 of 4 treatments: (1) biscuit with fecal semiochemical attractant, (2) biscuit with sugary attractant, (3) biscuit with no attractant (positive control), and (4) no biscuit (negative control). Each pen received 4 biscuits suspended from 2 ropes at the feeder for the first 7 days after weaning. Pig aggressive behavior at the feeder was recorded. Descriptive data including frequency (number) and duration (seconds) of aggressive interactions, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and fecal score were evaluated. The negative control treatment had less feeder aggression than the enrichment treatments. On average, duration of aggression events around the feeder between all treatments was 1 second with the range from < 1 second to 21 seconds. During the first 4 days, the pens of pigs receiving the positive control treatment consumed the most feed when compared to other treatments. Overall, providing pigs the biscuit enrichment at the feeder did not result in increased pig removal due to aggressive interactions. Additionally, pens of pigs that were provided a biscuit enrichment with no attractant had the most promising early daily feed intake. At a time where consumers are asking questions concerning the pig’s quality of life and enriching their living environment, providing biscuit in the feeders within each pen of pigs may be a way to provide pigs an enhanced living environment.

The objective of this study was to determine if neonatal piglets would interact with environmental enrichment ropes, drawing them away from the sow. A total of 84 piglets from 9 sows were housed in farrowing stalls. Litters were provided with environmental enrichment ropes hung at piglet eye level above a heat mat on Day 2 to Day 5 after farrowing. Litters were assigned to one of three rope treatments: 1) sunflower oil (OIL), 2) semiochemical (SC) and 3) milky cheese (MC). Overall, 75% (63/84) of the piglets interacted with the ropes. Piglets preferred the plain OIL treatment compared to both the MC and SC treatments, as indicated by a greater total percent of pigs interacting with the OIL ropes. Overall, this study determined that piglets did interact with enrichment ropes, which drew them away from the sow. At this early stage of life, a piglet’s main motivators are sow-directed, so an environmental enrichment tool that draws piglets away from the sow is a significant finding.

The objective of this study was to determine if a biologically relevant environmental enrichment (EE) biscuit-maintained novelty and affected nursery pig performance over the first seven days. Thirty mixed sex piglets, aged 19-24 days, were allocated to 3 pens. Each pen received 2 ropes with 2 biscuits per rope (defined as the EE) at the feeder for the first 7 days after weaning. Each pen was randomly allocated 1 of 3 treatments: positive control (POS, plain biscuits), maternal pheromone (MP, biscuits dipped in an oil-based sow maternal pheromone), and jam (JAM, biscuits dipped in strawberry jam). Biscuits were replaced daily. Descriptive data collected included EE interactions, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and fecal scores. EE interactions were evaluated in the 1st and 12th hour after daily EE replacement using instantaneous scan sampling at 10 second intervals. Average EE interaction frequency across the 1st hour was POS 372 ± 165, JAM 291 ± 96, MP 314 ± 223. Interaction frequency was consistently higher during the 1st hour compared to the 12th hour after EE replacement. ADG and ADFI were highest for pigs in the POS treatments (ADG 0.234, kg/d, ADFI 0.20 ± 0.13 kg/d) and lowest for pigs in the JAM treatment (ADG 0.186 kg/d, ADFI 0.16 ± 0.09 kg/d). In conclusion, nursery pigs showedhigh levels of interaction with the environmental enrichment over the entire week, and POS treatment was the most successful in enticing pigs to interact with the EE with potential impacts on subsequent performance.

The objective of this study was to validate scan sample accuracy at various predetermined intervals relative to continuous observation of individual nursery pigs interacting with a feeder and nutritional enrichment. A total of 280 mixed-sex pigs, 19 to 24 days of age were randomly allocated to 28 pens. Pen was the experimental unit, and 7 pens were assigned to each of 4 treatments: (1) biscuit with maternal pheromone attractant (MP), (2) biscuit with sugary attractant (strawberry jam) (JAM), (3) biscuit with no attractant (positive control; POS), and (4) no biscuit (negative control; NEG). Each enrichment pen received 4 biscuits suspended from 2 ropes at the feeder for the first 7 days after weaning. The biscuit enrichments were added to the nursery pen at ~ the 15:00 hour on Day 0 and ~ the 08:30 hour on Days 1-6. Behavior observations were performed using continuous sampling of all nursery pigs in each pen during the first 30 minutes after biscuit placement on Days 0 to 6 (98 total hours, 3.5 hours/pen). The number of times each pig interacted with the feeder and biscuit was recorded as well as the duration of each interaction. These continuous observations were then used to create different data sets at varying sample times. The scan sample and continuous data were analyzed using the GLM procedure of SAS and behavioral frequency data were expressed as percentage of time (s) pigs were performing an identified behavior during the 30-minute observation periods. For enrichment use, there was no observed statistical difference between data collected using continuous observation, 10 second scans and 15 second scans when comparing continuous to 5 second scans, 10 second scans, 15 second scans and 30 second scans. For feeder use, there was no observed statistical difference between data collected using continuous observation and the 30 second scan sample when comparing continuous to 15 second scans, 30 second scans, 45 second scans and 60 second scans. In conclusion, 30 second scan sampling for feeder use and 10 second and 15 second scan sampling for enrichment use can be used, without being different to the continuous or "gold standard" methodology. These scan point validations are critical because they allow the observer to collect more total data in less time without giving up accuracy.