Category Archives: Enrichment

Did European pig-welfare legislation reduce pig welfare? Perhaps not, but experts confirm that common indestructible materials are not proper enrichment for pigs at all, except perhaps for an enhanced novel branched-chains design.

Published as: Marc B.M. Bracke and Paul Koene, 2019. Expert opinion on metal chains and other indestructible objects as proper enrichment for intensively-farmed pigs. PLOS ONE. Available at http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0212610. EC Directive 2001/93 requires that all pigs have access to proper … Continue reading

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Towards a common conceptual framework and illustrative model for feather pecking in poultry and tail biting in pigs – 1. Introduction

This is post 1. “Introduction” of: Towards a common conceptual framework and illustrative model for feather pecking in poultry and tail biting in pigs – Connecting science to solutions Marc B.M. Brackea, T. Bas Rodenburgb, Herman M. Vermeera, Thea G.C.M. … Continue reading

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Towards a common conceptual framework and illustrative model for feather pecking in poultry and tail biting in pigs – 2. Terminology

This is post 2 on “Terminology” of: Towards a common conceptual framework and illustrative model for feather pecking in poultry and tail biting in pigs – Connecting science to solutions Marc B.M. Brackea, T. Bas Rodenburgb, Herman M. Vermeera, Thea … Continue reading

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Towards a common conceptual framework and illustrative model for feather pecking in poultry and tail biting in pigs – 3. Overview

This is post 3 on “Overview of main similarities and differences between feather pecking and tail biting” of: Towards a common conceptual framework and illustrative model for feather pecking in poultry and tail biting in pigs – Connecting science to … Continue reading

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Towards a common conceptual framework and illustrative model for feather pecking in poultry and tail biting in pigs – 5. Models

This is post 5 on “Models” of: Towards a common conceptual framework and illustrative model for feather pecking in poultry and tail biting in pigs – Connecting science to solutions Marc B.M. Brackea, T. Bas Rodenburgb, Herman M. Vermeera, Thea … Continue reading

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Towards a common conceptual framework and illustrative model for feather pecking in poultry and tail biting in pigs – 7. Evolution and domestication

This is post 7 on “Evolution and Domestication” of: Towards a common conceptual framework and illustrative model for feather pecking in poultry and tail biting in pigs – Connecting science to solutions Marc B.M. Brackea, T. Bas Rodenburgb, Herman M. … Continue reading

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Branched chains as enrichment for pigs (technical description, pictures and video)

This post illustrates the so-called branched chain design. This is an improved type of chain that seems most suited as a starting point towards providing proper enrichment (as required by e.g. EU legislation) for conventional, intensively-farmed pigs. However, also pigs … Continue reading

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