TOYS AND ENRICHMENT MATERIALS
El Real Decreto 159/2023, de 7 de marzo modifies several decrees related to animal welfare, including Decreto 1135/2002, de 31 de octubre, regarding the minimum standards for the protection of pigs.
In Annex 1, Chapter 1, it is indicated that pigs must have permanent access to a sufficient quantity of materials or a combination of safe materials, preferably edible, that are chewable and explorable, and that allow adequate investigation and handling activities such as straw. , hay, wood, sawdust, mushroom compost, peat or a mixture thereof, which does not compromise the health of the animals. Enrichment materials should be such that animals maintain interest in them, regularly replaced or replenished, and accessible for oral manipulation at all times. The suitability of the materials offered will be assessed through periodic sampling and at least once a week. This assessment will not be necessary in pens in which the animals are kept with their tails intact. Materials must be available that allow said research and handling activities, with different characteristics to offer the animals novel materials or presentations in the event of outbreaks of tail-biting or aggressiveness.
Although often overlooked, providing an enriched environment for pigs can have significant benefits in terms of animal welfare and productive performance.
In this video there are some reasons why toys and enrichment material are so important: reducing stress and boredom, improving animal welfare and productivity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv79XR-SjiU
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