Pig Enrichment

That’s why Ridley is looking ahead with the Ridley Enrich Sow Block. Sow Block is a consumable 20kg block specially designed for pigs, in line with the best global enrichment standards. As a long-term, economical way to reduce harmful behaviours, it’s simple and effective. Like other forms of enrichment, it encourages natural behaviours and reduces stress. It’s also made from a molasses base, so it has a pleasant taste that never loses its appeal – initial results show that pigs engage with Sow Block continuously, consuming consistent quantities over time.

Most importantly, Sow Block works. By supporting the natural foraging tendencies of pregnant sows, it is proven to reduce stress-related harmful behaviours. As trial results show, with a Sow Block included in pig enrichment measures, you can expect to see fewer scratches, more time spent resting and less time spent chasing.

Table 1: Mean time (min) sows’ spent engaged in behaviour and posture one (1) hour after feeding over the four days of observation, for sows in the control group and receiving 2.3 kg/day, sows receiving a high-feeding level (4.0 kg/day) or sows receiving a Ridley Enrich SowBlock™ in addition to 2.3 kg feed/day. (Pork CRC funded Commercialisation project)