How do ground fixed or suspended objects influence the activity of growing-finishing pigs housed on fully slatted floor?

The objective of the present study was to improve the well being of pigs by decreasing their aggressiveness during the growing-fattening period by stimulating explorative behaviour. Three treatments were tested: S, an object was fixed to the floor of the pen; H, an object was suspended above the pen and T, absence of an object. Four pens were assigned per treatment. Each pen contained 4 castrated males and 4 females and measured 7m2. The floor was made up of concrete slats and the pen partitions were solid. Direct and indirect observations (video) were carried out when the pigs were placed in the pens and 3, 4, 7 and 11 weeks later. The severity of skin lesions was noted before and after the animals were transferred to the fattening pens. The initial weight was 29 kg and the final weight was 101 kg at 11 weeks.The presence of an object did not affect pig growth rate. It increased the general activity of the animals (respectively 18.6 %, 22.8% and 26.1% for T, H and S, P