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2025 Vol.27, Issue 3 Preview Page

Research article

Effects of stocking density and toy provision on stress related abnormal behavior and productivity of finishing pigs

사육밀도와 장난감 제공이 비육돈의 스트레스 관련 이상행동 및 생산성에 미치는 영향

Tea-Hwan Park1
,
Duck‐Min Ha2
,
Doo‐Hwan Kim2*
박 태환1
,
하 덕민2
,
김 두환2*
1CEO, Taewon Pig Farm, 85-23 Shincharo, Sancheong, 52295, Republic of Korea
2Researcher, AFBCI, 501 Jinjudaero, Jinju, 52828, Republic of Korea
Professor, Division of Animal Science, Gyeongsang National University, 501 Jinjudaero, Jinju, 52828, Republic of Korea
1태원농장 대표
2경상국립대학교 농식품바이오융복합연구원 전임연구원
경상국립대학교 축산과학부 교수
*Corresponding Author
31 December 2025. pp. 145-151
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Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of environmental improvement in pig farms on the behavior and productivity of finishing pigs. Specifically, the impacts of different space allowances per pig (1.0 m², 0.8 m², and 0.6 m²) and the provision of toy were compared in terms of stress related abnormal behaviors, growth performance, and carcass quality. The frequency of abnormal behaviors increased as stocking density became higher, whereas pigs reared under low density conditions exhibited significantly greater average daily gain, carcass weight, backfat thickness, and higher carcass grading scores (P<0.01). The provision of toy significantly reduced the occurrence of aggressive behaviors and improved weight gain (P<0.01). Moreover, pigs without toy showed a higher frequency and longer duration of bothering behaviors. In conclusion, maintaining a space allowance of at least 0.8 m² per finishing pig and providing environmental enrichment materials can effectively reduce stress and enhance productivity. These findings suggest that optimal stocking density and environmental enrichment may serve as a basis for transitioning conventional pig farms toward welfare enriched production systems that ensure both animal welfare and economic sustainability.

Keywords
Animal welfare
Stocking density
Behavior
Productivity
Finishing pig
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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Society of Animal Environmental Science & Technology
  • Publisher(Ko) :(사)한국축산환경학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of Animal Environmental Science
  • Journal Title(Ko) :축산시설환경학회지
  • Volume : 27
  • No :3
  • Pages :145-151
  • Received Date : 2025-12-11
  • Revised Date : 2025-12-19
  • Accepted Date : 2025-12-19
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.11109/JAES.2025.27.3.145
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