Scientific Reports of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine

Assessment of the behavioural performance of growing pigs under different enrichment strategies in the context of implementing animal welfare regulations in Ukraine

Mykhailo Chentsov, Anna Lykhach
Download article
Abstract

The strengthening of animal welfare requirements in Ukraine necessitates the adaptation of pig housing technologies to European integration standards. The study aimed to assess the impact of different environmental enrichment strategies on the play behaviour of growing pigs under industrial conditions. The experiment was conducted on four groups of pigs, each consisting of 22 individuals, aged 28 days at the start, with identical feeding and housing conditions. Enrichment objects were introduced before the start of video monitoring to ensure animal adaptation. Behavioural observations were carried out in three periods: days 29-35, 50-56, and 70-76. Data analysis was performed using two-way analysis of variance with fixed factors “group” and “day,” as well as their interaction “group × day.” The results showed that the “group” factor accounted for 51.7% of the variation in the first period, and in periods 2 and 3, it reached 99% (P < 0.001). The duration of play behaviour in the control group ranged from 6.7 to 12.6 minutes, while in the group with a cotton rope, it was up to 42.7 minutes; in the group with bundles of packing paper, up to 65.2 minutes; and in the group with bottles partially filled with grain, up to 76.2 minutes. The results obtained for all periods of the study indicate that the “group” factor explained 78.0% of the total variation in play behaviour, while the “experiment period” explained only 5.0%, and unorganised factors accounted for 14.5%, indicating the clear dominance of enrichment type over time-related changes. Hierarchical variance analysis confirmed that in all groups, both the period and the day of the experiment had a highly significant impact (all P < 0.001), but the proportion of variation due to unorganised factors was highest in the growing piglets of the control group, at 53.6%. These data suggest a significant stimulatory effect of environmental enrichment on pig activity. The advantage of the enriched groups demonstrates the potential for improving the behavioural and emotional components of animal welfare. It is emphasised that the implementation of accessible and effective enrichment strategies is of practical importance for modernising pig housing in Ukraine in line with welfare requirements 

Keywords

ethical standards, European integration, behaviour, pigs, sustainable development, technology

Suggested citation
Chentsov, M., & Lykhach, A. (2025). Assessment of the behavioural performance of growing pigs under different enrichment strategies in the context of implementing animal welfare regulations in Ukraine. Scientific Reports of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, 21(6),114-127. https://doi.org/ 10.31548/dopovidi/6.2025.114
References
  1. Alvarez‑Hernandez, N., Vallejo-Timarán, D., & de Jesús Rodriguez, B. (2023). Adapted original music as an environmental enrichment in an intensive pig production system reduced aggression in weaned pigs during regrouping. Animals, 13(23), article number 3599. doi: 10.3390/ani13233599.
  2. Beaudoin, J.-M., Bergeron, R., Devillers, N., & Laforest, J.-P. (2019). Growing pigs’ interest in enrichment objects with different characteristics and cleanliness. Animals, 9(3), article number 85. doi: 10.3390/ani9030085.
  3. Boyle, L.A., Edwards, S.A., Bolhuis, J.E., Pol, F., Šemrov, M.Z., Schütze, S., Nordgreen, J., Bozakova, N., Sossidou, E.N., & Valros, A. (2021). The evidence for a causal link between disease and damaging behavior in pigs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8, article number 771682. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.771682.
  4. Bucková, K., Muns, R., Ceron, J., & Kyriazakis, I. (2022). Consequences of timing of organic enrichment provision on pig performance, health and stress resilience after weaning and regrouping. Animal, 16(10), article number 100637. doi: 10.1016/j.animal.2022.100637.
  5. Casal-Plana, N., Mantecab, X., Dalmaua, A., & Fàbregaa, E. (2017). Influence of enrichment material and herbal compounds in the behaviour and performance of growing pigs. Applied Animal Behavior Science, 195, 38-43. doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2017.06.002.
  6. Colditz, I.G., Campbell, D.L.M., Ingham, A.B., & Lee, C. (2024). Review: Environmental enrichment builds functional capacity and improves resilience as an aspect of positive welfare in production animals. Animal, 8(6), article number 101173. doi: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101173.
  7. Delsart, M., Pol, F., Dufour, B., Rose, N., & Fablet, C. (2020) Pig farming in alternative systems: Strengths and challenges in terms of animal welfare, biosecurity, animal health and pork safety. Agriculture, 10(7), article number 261. doi: 10.3390/agriculture10070261.
  8. DSTU 4508:2005. (2005). Concentrated feed for pigs. Technical specifications. Retrieved from https://online.budstandart.com/ua/catalog/doc-page?id_doc=54157.
  9. European Union. (2008). Council Directive 2008/120/EC of 18 December 2008 laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs (Codified version). Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2008/120/oj/eng.
  10. European Union. (2010). Council Directive 2010/63/EC of 22 September 2010 on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32010L0063.
  11. European Union. (2021). Animal welfare on the farm, ex-post evaluation of the EU legislation. Prospects for animal welfare labelling at EU level – European implementation assessment. Retrieved from https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2861/23838.
  12. Fàbrega, E., Marcet-Rius, M., Vidal, R., Escribano, D., Cerón, J.J., Manteca, X., & Velarde, A. (2019). The effects of environmental enrichment on the physiology, behaviour, productivity and meat quality of pigs raised in a hot climate. Animals, 9(5), article number 235. doi: 10.3390/ani9050235.
  13. Ibatulin, I.I. (Ed.). (2017). Methodology and organization of scientific research in animal husbandry. Kyiv: Agrarian Science.
  14. Ladyka, V.I., & Khmelnychiy, L.M. (Eds.). (2023). Technology of production and processing of livestock products. Odesa: Oldi+.
  15. Lee, J., Oh, S., & Kim, M. (2025). Impact of environmental enrichment on growth, behavior, and welfare of weanling piglets from pre‑weaning to 6 weeks of age. Journal of Animal Science & Technology, 67(1), 152-163. doi: 10.5187/jast.2024.e1
  16. Li, J., Han, Q., Zhang, R., Liu, H., Li, X., & Bao, J. (2020). PSV-7 Effects of music stimulus on behavior response, cortisol level and immunity horizontal of growing pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 98, 224-225. doi: 10.1093/jas/skaa278.412.
  17. Luo, L., Reimert, I., Middelkoop, A., Kemp, B., & Bolhuis, J.E. (2020) Effects of early and current environmental enrichment on behavior and growth in pigs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7, article number 268. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00268.
  18. Luo, L., van der Zande, L.E., van Marwijk, M.A., Knol, E.F., Rodenburg, T.B., Bolhuis, J.E., & Parois, S.P. (2022). Impact of enrichment and repeated mixing on resilience in pigs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9, article number 829060. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.829060.
  19. Lykhach, A., Lykhach, V., Faustov, R., Getya, A., & Lesik, I. (2022). Influence of enrichment materials on the behaviour and productive traits of fattening pigs. Acta Fytotechnica et Zootechnica, 25(2), 77-84. doi: 10.15414/afz.2022.25.02.77-84.
  20. Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine. (2005). Departmental Norms for Technological Design – Agro-Industrial Complex – 02.05. “Pig-breeding enterprises (complexes, farms, small farms)”. Retrieved from https://lugdpss.gov.ua/images/bezpechnist_veterynariya/Svynarski-pidpryyemstva-VNTP-APK-02.05.pdf
  21. Mun, H.-S., Lagua, E., Ampode, K.M.B., Chem, V., Park, H.-R., Kim, Y.-H., & Yang, C.-J. (2023). Interactions of environmental conditions, day-night cycles, and growing periods on postural behavior of pigs. Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology, 11(4), article number 2023035. doi: 10.31893/jabb.23035.
  22. Oliveira, R.F., Soares, R.T.R.N., Moreira, R.H.R., Andrade, R.P., Rosenfield, D.A., & Pizzutto, C.S. (2023). Effects of the environmental enrichment on pigs’ behavior and performance. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia, 52, article number e20210123 doi: 10.37496/rbz5220210123.
  23. Order of the Ministry for Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine No. 224 “On Approval of Requirements for the Welfare of Farm Animals during Their Keeping”. (2021, February). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z0206-21#Text.
  24. Pietrosemoli, S., & Tang, C. (2020). Animal welfare and production challenges associated with pasture pig systems: A review. Agriculture, 10(6), article number 223. doi: 10.3390/agriculture10060223.
  25. Smith, K.C., & Pierdon, M.K. (2024). Utilization of enrichment objects by growing pigs in a commercial facility and the impact on behavior and skin lesions. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 272, article number 106181. doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106181.
  26. Steinerová, K., Parker, S.E., Brown, S.E., & Seddon, Y.M. (2024). The promotion of play behaviour in grow‑finish pigs: The relationship between behaviours indicating positive experience and physiological measures. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 275, article number 106263. doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106263.