The study was carried out in order to verify the effects of piglets’ weight at birth on their surface temperature change (ST) after birth, and its relationship with ingestion time of colostrum. Piglets from four different sows were weighed at birth and divided into a totally randomized design with three treatments according to birth weight (PBW): T1 - less than 1.00 kg, T2 - 1.00 to 1.39 kg, and T3 - higher than or equal to 1.40 kg. The time spent for the first colostrum ingestion was recorded (TFS). Images of piglets’ surface by thermal imaging camera were recorded at birth (STB) and 15, 30, 45, 60, and 120 min after birth. The air temperature and relative humidity were recorded every 30 min and the indexes of temperature and humidity (THI) were calculated. A ST drop after 15 min from birth was observed, increasing again after sixty minutes. Positive correlations were found between the PBW and the ST at 30 and 45 min after birth. The PBW was negatively correlated with the TFS. The THI showed high negative correlations (−0.824 and −0.815) with STB and after 15 min from birth. The piglet’s surface temperature at birth was positively correlated with temperature thereof to 15 min, influencing therefore the temperatures in the interval of 45 to 120 min. The birth weight contributes significantly to postnatal hypothermia and consequently to the time it takes for piglets ingest colostrum, requiring special attention to those of low birth weight.

Three trials were carried out in a completely randomized design aiming to assess the behavior of pigs in growth phase in enriched environments. Trial 1 evaluated the effects of frequency of availability of environmental enrichment. The animals were assigned to four treatments: 1) control with no enrichment object; 2) objects provided for six consecutive days uninterruptedly; 3) objects provided on alternate days, and 4) objects provided for six consecutive days taken away by the end of the afternoon and replaced at dawn. Trial 2 assessed the effects of scent on animals’ acceptance and maintenance of interest in objects. Animals were assigned to four treatments: 1) unscented object; 2) object with banana scent; 3) object with rum scent; 4) object with scents alternated every other day. Trial 3 aimed to assess the influence of environmental enrichment based on providing rewards at different difficulty levels. Animals were assigned to three treatments: 1) object with no reward; 2) object with a reward at an easy level; 3) object with a reward at a difficult level. Each trial had six days of behavioral observations every ten minutes for eight hours each day using images from video cameras. Enrichment objects stimulated the animals’ natural behavior of nuzzling and exploring the environment. The way the objects were available did not impact the success of their use. Offering enrichment on alternate days or removing the objects by the end of the day was not an effective strategy to extend the animals’ interest. The olfactory stimulus in environmental enrichment objects had no positive effect on extending the animals’ interest on them, nor did alternating the aromas. The tactile stimulus was a key factor for object attractiveness. Providing environmental enrichment objects with rewards stimulated the exploratory behavior of pigs. The level of difficulty to obtain the reward may discourage the animals.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of increasing doses of bacterial phytase (RONOZYME HiPhos) on performance and carcass characteristics of growing and finishing pigs. The study included 120 castrated males with initial weight of 23.21 ± 1.91 kg and 68 days of age, distributed in a randomized block design with five treatments and eight replicates with three animals each. The pigs were fed five corn-soybean meal-based diets: positive control (PC), supplemented with inorganic phosphorus and calcium; negative control (NC), with 0.13% reduction in available phosphorus and 0.11% in calcium; and three NC diets supplemented with 1,000, 2,000, and 3,000 phytase units (FYT)/kg in the feed. Compared with the NC diets without phytase, diets with 1,000, 2,000, and 3,000 FYT/kg inclusion increased the daily weight gain by +12% (quadratic, p<0.05) during the growing I period; +2.9, +2.9, and +10.5% (linear, p<0.01), respectively, during the growing II period; and +4.1, +5.1, and +8.2% (linear, p<0.001), respectively, over the entire experimental period. The daily feed intake increased by 0, +2.8, and +4.3% (linear, p<0.05), respectively, considering the entire experimental period; and the final live weight increased by +3.2, +4.2, and +6.1% (linear, p<0.001), respectively. The phytase treatments did not influence feed conversion ratio, carcass weight and yield, backfat thickness, loin depth and carcass lean meat. According to the European Carcass Classification (SEUROP), however, the animals fed the PC diet and the three phytase levels had more carcasses classified as E (between 55–60% lean meat) when compared to carcasses of pigs fed the NC. Supplementing increasing levels of phytase to a corn- and soybean meal-based diet with inorganic P and Ca reduction improved daily weight gain and feed intake of growing pigs, and such effects were maintained until slaughter age.

A suinocultura industrial brasileira é representativa em nível mundial, detendo uma produção de qualidade reconhecida e competitiva, na qual a classifica como quarta maior exportadora, contribuindo expressivamente com o PIB do país. Por sua vez, o tema bem-estar animal (BEA), que já se encontra bem estabelecido em importantes países produtores de suínos, vem ganhando notoriedade nesta cadeia, com consumidores, investidores e empresas alimentícias pressionando a indústria brasileira para incrementar estas práticas. Baseado em informações da literatura científica, atos administrativos, materiais técnicos e comunicados produzidos pelo setor privado, esta revisão apresenta o cenário brasileiro do bem-estar dos suínos, incluindo informações sobre a avaliação científica do BEA, como empresas e consumidores percebem o tema, os atos administrativos e demais iniciativas oficiais, a situação da transição do sistema de gestação em celas para o modelo coletivo e algumas das contribuições da pesquisa nacional. O cenário do bem-estar dos suínos no país é desafiador, mas há uma mobilização e esforços significativos de toda a cadeia, envolvendo a iniciativa pública e privada, já com resultados efetivos e práticos, sinalizando que embora o caminho seja laborioso o país avança verticalmente nesta questão.

RESUMOÉ cada vez maior a preocupação da comunidade científica e do mercado consumidor em relação aos métodos que os animais são produzidos. As novas exigências do mercado externo, em relação à qualidade ética dos produtos disponibilizados para o consumo, requerem novas técnicas direcionadas ao bem-estar animal. Na suinocultura industrial, os animais, geralmente, vivem confinados em todas as fases da vida. Portanto, estudos vêm sendo realizados para minimizar os efeitos do estresse gerados pelos monótonos ambientes de confinamento. O uso de objetos de enriquecimento ambiental pode ser uma alternativa viável de adaptação ao sistema de produção de suínos presente no Brasil. Contudo, sua eficácia ainda é limitada devido à rápida habituação dos suínos aos objetos disponibilizados. O objetivo deste artigo é revisar alternativas de enriquecimento ambiental usadas na suinocultura.Palavras-chave: bem-estar animal; brinquedos; suinocultura. ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT AND BEHAVIOUR OF PIGS: REVIEW ABSTRACTThere is a great concern in the scientific community and the consumer market over the methods that animals are produced. The new demands of the external market, in relation to the ethical quality of the products available to the consumer, require new techniques directed to animal welfare. In industrial pig farming, animals usually live confined in all stages of life. Therefore, studies are being conducted to minimize the effects of stress generated by the confinement environmental. The use of objects for environmental enrichment may be a viable alternative for adaptation of Brazilian swine production. However, its efficacy is still limited due to rapid habituation of pigs to objects provided. The aim of this paper is to review alternatives for environmental enrichment used in pig farming.