Promoting play behaviour in grow-finish pigs

Play behaviour has been associated with excitement and fun, suggesting that playing animals experience pleasurable states. To determine if the provision of play opportunities could enhance the quality of life of pigs, this study investigated if play can be promoted and sustained in pigs beyond the natural period of expression (2-6 weeks of age) in a commercial setting. Growing pigs (n = 288, 10 weeks of age), housed in standard partly slatted pens, were assigned to either a Control treatment with no play interventions (CON, 1 m²/pig); or to a Novelty (NOV) or Play pen (PLP) treatments, with play promotion between 10 and 21 weeks delivered through play sessions 3x/week. Play treatments received the intermittent provision of destructible novel objects provided either in the home pen (NOV, 1 m²/pig), or in an enclosed ‘play pen’ area providing extra space (PLP, 2.9 m²/pig).

The results showed that play was successfully promoted and sustained until the finishing period and equally expressed regardless of extra space. Pigs with play opportunities expressed indicators that play is a rewarding and motivating behaviour and could enhance the quality of life of farmed pigs when supported.