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Standardising the assessment of environmental enrichment and tail-docking legal requirements for finishing pigs in Europe

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

B Hothersall ,
L Whistance ,
H Zedlacher ,
B Algers ,
E Andersson ,
M Bracke ,
V Courboulay ,
P Ferrari ,
C Leeb  and
S Mullan
...Show all authors
B Hothersall
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, UK
L Whistance
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, UK
H Zedlacher
Affiliation:
Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Austria
B Algers
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Sweden
E Andersson
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Sweden
M Bracke
Affiliation:
Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University and Research Centre, The Netherlands
V Courboulay
Affiliation:
IFIP Institut du Porc, France
P Ferrari
Affiliation:
Centro Ricerche Produzioni Animali, Italy
C Leeb
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, UK
S Mullan*
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, UK
J Nowicki
Affiliation:
Department of Swine and Small Ruminants Breeding, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Poland
M-C Meunier-Salaün
Affiliation:
Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), France
T Schwarz
Affiliation:
Department of Swine and Small Ruminants Breeding, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Poland
L Stadig
Affiliation:
Animal Sciences Unit, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Belgium
D Main
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
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Abstract

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An online training package providing a concise synthesis of the scientific data underpinning EU legislation on enrichment and tail-docking of pigs was produced in seven languages, with the aim of improving consistency of professional judgements regarding legislation compliance on farms. In total, 158 participants who were official inspectors, certification scheme assessors and advisors from 16 EU countries completed an initial test and an online training package. Control group participants completed a second identical test before, and Training group participants after, viewing the training. In Section 1 of the test participants rated the importance of modifying environmental enrichment defined in nine scenarios from 1 (not important) to 10 (very important). Training significantly increased participants’ overall perception of the need for change. Participants then rated nine risk factors for tail-biting from 1 (no risk) to 10 (high risk). After training scores were better correlated with risk rankings already described by scientists. Scenarios relating to tail-docking and management were then described. Training significantly increased the proportion of respondents correctly identifying that a farm without tail lesions should stop tail-docking. Finally, participants rated the importance of modifying enrichment in three further scenarios. Training increased ratings in all three. The pattern of results indicated that participants’ roles influenced scores but overall the training improved: i) recognition of enrichments that, by virtue of their type or use by pigs, may be insufficient to achieve legislation compliance; ii) knowledge on risk factors for tail-biting; and iii) recognition of when routine tail-docking was occurring.

Keywords

animal welfareenrichmentinspectorlegislationpigtail-docking
Type
Articles
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 25 , Issue 4 , November 2016 , pp. 499 - 509
Copyright
© 2016 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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