Enrichment tools for undocked heavy pigs: effects on body and gastric lesions and carcase and meat quality parameters

Abstract

Two independent trials were carried out to assess the effect of two enrichment tools on the prevalence of skin and tail lesions recorded prior of slaughtering, lesions of the pars oesophagea (OGL) of the stomach, and on carcase and meat quality traits in Italian heavy pigs (body weight range: 25–160 kg). Eighty undocked barrows (Landrace × Large White) were used in two trials (20 pigs/experimental group, 5 pigs/pen). In Trial 1, the control group received a hanging metal chain (C1), while the other group received wood logs (WL) placed inside a metal rack. In Trial 2, the control group was provided with hanging chain (C2), while the pen of the other group was enriched with a vegetal edible block (EB) placed inside the metal rack. In both trials, no differences were observed in the prevalence and severity of skin, tail and gastric lesions (p >.05). In Trial 1, WL pigs presented lower backfat (p =.01), higher lean meat percentage (p =.03) and higher drip loss in the loin muscle (p =.02) than C1 pigs. Tail score and gastric lesions showed a moderate correlation (r = 0.42; p =.01) in Trial 1. Treatments had no effect on carcase or meat quality traits in Trial 2 (p >.05). In conclusion, the two enrichments provided did not affect body and gastric lesions, carcase and meat quality of Italian heavy pigs, if compared to the metal chains.