Farms.com Home   News

Determining Effective Enrichments For Group Housed Sows

Providing enrichment involves making changes to the environment that are intended to increase the range of normal  Behaviours and improve the biological functioning and well-being of animals. Enrichment in group housing systems has the potential to significantly improve animal welfare by reducing aggression and injuries, stimulating exercise and the expression of species specific behaviours. However, when one enrichment is used continuously, habituation results and the enrichment can become less effective.

Initial behavioural results indicate that regardless of the enrichment treatment provided, sows spent similar amounts of time in enriched areas of the pen. Sows spent more time contacting and near the enrichment when
materials were rotated than constant. Sows in the ROTATE treatment spent the most time within 1 metre of the enrichments on day 10 when straw was provided.

Determining Effective Enrichments for Group Housed Sows (View pdf)

Source : Prairie Swine Centre

Trending Video

What Successful AI Implementation Looks Like in the Protein Industry | Ben Allen, CEO of BinSentry

Video: What Successful AI Implementation Looks Like in the Protein Industry | Ben Allen, CEO of BinSentry

In this conversation, Ben Allen, CEO of BinSentry, explores what separates successful AI implementation from early experimentation across the protein industry. As producers begin integrating artificial intelligence into their operations, the most effective implementations share common themes: strong data foundations, practical use cases, and a focus on solving real operational challenges. Ben discusses why data quality and integration are essential for AI to deliver meaningful results, and why technology alone is not enough. Successful adoption also depends heavily on people, training, and company culture, ensuring teams understand how to use new tools and trust the insights they provide. Looking ahead, the conversation highlights the steps protein producers can take today—from improving data infrastructure to embracing digital tools—to position their operations for long-term success in an increasingly AI-driven industry.