Abstract:
This experiment was conducted to study the effect of floor type and toys on stress response and generic behaviors in growing pigs. Four hundreds and thirtytwo White×Landrace female growers with initial weight of (26.22±1.17) kg were randomly allotted into floor type group (no warm floor or warm floor) and toys group (no provided or provided). Every treatment had 6 replications, every replication with 18 pigs and each pen was a replication. Feeding period was 35 days. During the test period, besides collecting blood to determine the creatine kinase, blood glucose concentration, neutrophili/lymphocyte (N/L), and collecting saliva to determine the cortisol concentration, pigs′ behavior was recorded. The results showed that blood glucose level was significantly decreased in the warm floor compared with the cold floor (P=0.02). N/L ratio in the pigs provided with toys significantly decreased (P=0.04). The saliva cortisol level of warm floor group was significantly decreased in the former phase and the latter phase of the trial (P<0.01, P=0.04). Warm floor significantly decreased the frequency of comfort behavior (P=0.01), investigating behavior (P=0.02) and sidelying behavior (P<0.01). Toys significantly increased the frequency of comfort behavior (P=0.02) and disport behavior (P=0.04). In conclusion, warm floor and toys could increase the expression of generic behaviors, decrease stress and improve animal welfare.