Short communication: Preweaning socialization and environmental enrichment affect short-term performance after regrouping in commercially reared pigs

On-farm practices like premature weaning and frequent regrouping induce stress to pigs. Early socialization or environmental enrichment in piglets reduce stress, as suggested previous studies. Little research with both effects commercial settings was found. The aim investigate the of preweaning on life-long performance 661 Danbred Two treatments were distinguished during suckling period: control (CON, 24 litters) enriched (ENR, litters). Control raised barren farrowing pens; ENR provided six objects from birth, two neighboring litters socialized Day (D) 14. Pigs regrouped D25 (weaning) D71 (fattening), while keeping same treatment. Individual body weight recorded D1, 14, 23, 27, 31, 38, 69, 79, after slaughter (carcass weight, CW). slaughtered batches. Estimated (ESW) calculated by CW × 1.25. Body CW, average daily gain (ADG) analyzed linear mixed models. Slaughter age Wilcox Rank-Sum test. ESW adjusted non-linear models obtain predicted growth curves CON ENR, birth targeted market (TMW, 105 kg). Average suckling, nursery, fattening periods, slaughter, did not differ between treatments. However, ADG when moving pigs nursery (4-day period) (10-day period), revealed a better than (+ 20.6 g/day, P = 0.02; + 53 0.03, respectively). Enriched tended be 2.8 days earlier (P 0.08). On other hand, showed non-significant 2-day window reaching TMW 0.23). Results that enriching neonatal environment improved short-term regrouping, may benefit reducing time reach TMW.