EUWelNet - Coordinated European Animal Welfare Network EU

So, to fulfill the repertoire of behaviours related to foraging and other investigation and manipulation activities, enrichment objects should be edible, chewable, rootable and destructible.



The following is a list of some typical materials offered as enrichment and the behaviours that they can fulfill.

 

The first list includes examples of enrichment objects, or toys.

 

Materials offered as enrichment: objects or toys Properties that promote proper manipulation behaviour
   Chain

Edible

Chewable

Only superficial chewing possible

Rootable

Destructible

   Plastic/ Rubber

Edible

Chewable

The harder the plastic, the less chewable it is

Rootable

Destructible

The harder the plastic, the less destructible it is

  Wooden block

Edible

Chewable

Hard wood, can be too hard for the pigs to chew

Rootable

Destructible

Wood can splinter. Hard wood, in big blocks, can be too hard for the pigs to destruct

  Cardboard

Edible

BUT

if recycled cardboards contain toxins

 

Chewable

Rootable

Some rooting possible if left at floor level

Destructible

Ball

Edible

Chewable

Rootable

Destructible

  Cloth: Hessian sack and rope

Edible

Chewable

Rootable

Some rooting possible if sacking left at floor level

Destructible

Salt lick

Edible

Chewable

Rootable

Destructible

 

The second list includes examples of enrichment offered as bedding or in a rack.

 

Materials offered as enrichment: substrate or roughage Properties that promote proper manipulation behaviour
Straw

Edible

Chewable

Rootable

Destructible

Hay

Edible

Chewable

Rootable

Destructible

 

Silage

Edible

Chewable

Rootable

Destructible

 

Soil

Edible

Soil may contain edible components such as plant roots

Chewable

Rootable

Destructible

Wood shavings

Edible

Chewable

Rootable

Destructible

Sawdust

Edible

Chewable

Rootable

Destructible

Rack feed with, for example,  straw, hay or silage.

Edible

Chewable

Rootable

Destructible

 

“pigs must have permanent access to a sufficient quantity of material to enable proper investigation and manipulation activities, such as straw, hay, wood, sawdust, mushroom compost, peat or a mixture of such, which does not compromise the health of the animals.” (EU Directive 2008/120/EC, Annex 1, para 4)