Effects Of Environmental Enrichment And Sprinkler On Finishing Pigs' Welfare, Behavior And Meat Quality In Summer

The experiment was conducted to determine the effects of environment enrichment and sprinkler on finishing pigs'welfare, behavior, and meat quality in summer. On the other hand, the welfare of finishing pigs which was fed antibiotics was also researched to discuss the possibility of replacing antibiotics by welfare facilities. The results as follow:A total of 390 crossbred (French Landrace×Great Yorkshire) castrated male finishing pigs with intitial body weight of 67.88kg (S.D.=7.0kg) was allocated five treatments of positive control group (contained antibiotics in ration, pens without toys and sprinkler ); negative control group(contained no antibiotics in ration, pens without toys and sprinkler); Toys group (contained no antibiotics in ration, pens with toys), Sprinkler group (contained no antibiotics in ration, pens with sprinkler), Toys and sprinkler group (contained no antibiotics in ration, pens with toys and sprinkler). Every treatment had 6 replicates, every pen with 13 pigs was a replicate. Pigs in Replicates 1,2,5,6 were familiar before transferring to group; however, each pen pigs in Replicates 3,4 were from two different pens, 6 pigs from one pen, 7 pigs from another. Feeding period was 45-day. Each enriched pen had one bite-rite and one wood ball. The sprinkler were actived for 5 minute every 1 hour when the ambient temperature above 30℃(mainly from 11.00 AM to 17.00 PM). The sprinkler was first used on the fifth day. Six pigs (average body weight, 94.62kg) of each treatment were selected and sent to slaughter humanely. Meat samples were collected and analysed. The results showed as following.(1) Effects of toys on pigs'welfare, behavior, meat quality were described as follows. Toys and sprinkler had no significant influence on performance, however, toys and sprinkler group had the optimal performance. Toys significantly decreased the finishing pigs'skin lesion score in 4th day, 2nd week, 6th week (P<0.05, respectively). Very significantly decreased the finishing pigs'skin lesion score in 4th week (P<0.01). Toys significantly decreased the percentage of pigs'pen mates manipulation behavior (P<0.05); very significantly increased he percentage of pigs'pen manipulation behavior and toys manipulation behavior (P<0.001, P<0.001, respectively) during the period of 1-5th weeks. On the other hand, pigs always interested in manipulating toys throughout the experiment (especially bite rite). Toys significantly decreased serum levels of C-reactive protein (P<0.05). Toys tended to decrease the levels of saliva cortisol in 5th week (P<0.1). Toys significantly decreased the percentage of blood neutrophil and N/L ratio significantly (P<0.01,P<0.001, respectively), and very significantly increased the percentage of blood lymphocyte significantly (P<0.001) in 3rd week. Toys decreased the levels of MDH in subcutaneous adipose. Toys could help pigs to reduce lung lesion significantly (P<0.05).(2) Effects of sprinkler on pigs'welfare, behavior, meat quality were described as follows. Sprinkler very significantly decreased respiration rate (P<0.001) and skin temperature (P<0.001). Sprinkler very significantly decreased the percentage of pigs'lying posture and lying laterally posture (P<0.001, P<0.001, respectively). Sprinkler significantly alleviated pigs'heat stress. Sprinkler significantly decreased the saliva cortisol in 2nd week (P<0.05). Sprinkler very significantly decreased the percentage of blood neutrophil and N/L ratio (P<0.01, P<0.001, respectively), very significantly increased the percentage of blood lymphocyte (P<0.001) in 3rd week. Sprinkler significantly increased the duration spent within 0.5m of novel person (P<0.05) and duration spent for pigs to make physical contact with the human (P<0.001) in 6th week. Sprinkler had no effect on meat quality. Sprinkler tended to increase marbling score (P<0.1).(3) Effects of antibiotics on pigs'welfare, behavior, meat quality were described as follows. Antibiotics significnantly decreased saliva cortisol and N/L ratio in 3rd week (P<0.05, P<0.05, respectively), tended to decreased postmortem organs lesions (P<0.1).It is concluded that toys and sprinkler partly improved pigs'welfare, particularly on skin lesion scorces and some physiological stress index (saliva cortisol, N/L ratio, C-reactive protein, etc). Toys mainly decreased pen mate-directed behavior, pigs redirect their manipulation to pen and toys. Sprinkler mainly changed thermoregulatory behaviors. Pigs maintained interests on two kinds of toys throughout the experiment. Toys and sprinkler had no influence on meat quality. Antibiotics had no improvement on growth during finishing period in the present study.