Abstract
Pigs, intelligent and potentially destructive animals, can present unique challenges to laboratory animal caretakers trying to provide optimal housing and environmental enrichment. The authors developed an enrichment area in their facility for pigs that are neither preparing for nor recovering from surgery. They rotate pigs into the play area for periodic enrichment and socialization.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
We are sorry, but there is no personal subscription option available for your country.
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Swindle, M.M., Smith, A.C., Laber-Laird, K. & Dungan, L. Swine in biomedical research: management and models. ILAR J. 36(1), 1–5 (1994).
Institute for Laboratory Animal Research, National Research Council. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 1996).
Mount, L.E. & Ingram, D.L. The Pig as a Laboratory Animal (Academic Press, New York, NY, 1971).
McGlone, J.J. Agonistic behavior in food animals: review of research and techniques. J. Anim. Sci. 62(4), 1130–1139 (1986).
D'Eath, R.B. Consistency of aggressive temperament in domestic pigs: the effects of social experience and social disruption. Aggress. Behav. 30(5), 435–448 (2004).
Rushen, J. Social recognition, social dominance and the motivation of fighting by pigs. Curr. Top. Vet. Med. Anim. Sci. 53(1), 135–143 (1990).
Jensen, P. & Yngvesson, J. Aggression between unacquainted pigs – sequential assessment and effects of familiarity and weight. App. Anim. Behav. Sci. 58(1), 49–61 (1998).
Moore, A.S., Gonyou, H.W. & Ghent, A.W. Integration of newly introduced resident sows following grouping. App. Anim. Behav. Sci. 38(3–4), 257–267 (1993).
McGlone, J.J. A quantitative ethogram of aggressive and submissive behaviors in recently regrouped pigs. J. Anim. Sci. 61(3), 559–565 (1985).
Barnett, J.L., Cronin, G.M., McCallum, T.H. & Newman, E.A. Effects of pen size/shape and design on aggression when grouping unfamiliar adult pigs. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 36(2–3), 111–122 (1993).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing financial interests.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Casey, B., Abney, D. & Skoumbordis, E. A playroom as novel swine enrichment. Lab Anim 36, 32–34 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0307-32
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0307-32