Researchers, industries, producers and non-governmental organizations have invested in the introduction of “toys” in facilities where pigs are raised to reduce the effects of intensive confinement.“Toy is what elements placed in the stalls are called with the intention of allowing these animals to express natural behaviors, the same as they would if they were loose in nature”, explains researcher Osmar Dalla Costa, from Embrapa Swine and Birds.

Global pork production has increased fourfold in the last 50 years and is expected to remain high until 2050 due to the growth of the world population and per capita consumption in some regions of the planet, such as Asia. However, this productive increase depends on overcoming some challenges. One of them is the need to improve good production practices aimed at animal welfare.

Investing in elements of environmental enrichment in the facilities where pigs are raised is a second wave of animal welfare in brazilian swine. The first wave began in the mid-2000s and focused on improving the basic conditions available to animals from birth to slaughter.

Any modification that increases the comfort of the environment can be seen as an action of environmental enrichment. However, most of the time, the term refers to the addition of objects hanging somewhere in the premises or loose in the environment, which allow or encourage pigs to develop natural behaviors, such as poking, playing and developing group bonds.

According to the executive manager of Agricultural Sustainability at Seara Alimentos, Vamire Luiz Sens Junior, the” “toys are mainly aimed at breaking the monotony, which can cause abnormal behavior on the part of pigs. For example, when animals experience states of stress and frustration, they often exhibit attitudes with no apparent function, such as chewing with an empty mouth, grinding their teeth, biting iron bars or licking the floor.

The use of” “toys in pig breeding sites aims to provide better living conditions for these animals, as well as avoid undesirable behaviors and increase pig productivity. Investments in environmental enrichment elements are fundamental for animal welfare and will give greater competitiveness to the sector.