Effect of environmental enrichment in piglets behavior in nursery stage with elaboration and use of ethogram

Abstract

It is known that intensive breeding system presents several factors that will trigger stress and compromise the welfare of pigs, so, we can use environmental enrichment as a relatively simple tool that can ensure animal welfare. This study aims to promote environmental enrichment for pigs in the nursery phase, soon after weaning. Snacks and attractive items were inserted in the bays, so that we could compare their behavior by using ethograms to perform an accurate comparison concerning the effect of environmental enrichment. The obtained results were satisfactory and efficient, for the two types of environmental enrichment used.