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Artists explore how pigs like to play
A Popcorn Piñata was one of the objects created by artists Andrea Roe and Cath Keay.

Project reveals pigs’ enthusiasm for playtime

A piñata that dispenses popcorn and a pig version of KerPlunk are some of the novel items created by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) for an event which explores how pigs like to play.

The items are two of eight sculptural objects designed by Edinburgh College of Art lecturer Andrea Roe and Leverhulme Early Career Fellow Cath Keay. Video footage of the pigs interacting with the toys is now on show at the Roslin Institute.

Working with SRUC animal behaviour specialists, the artists chose materials that would encourage pigs to play and invite them to tear apart, smell and eat the objects. The items are all based on the theme of ‘carnival’ and include a ‘Fruit Machine’, ‘Apple Barrel’ and ‘Sweep Sensation’.

The idea is the brainchild of Professor Alistair Lawrence, chair of animal behaviour and welfare at SRUC and the Roslin Institute. Professor Lawrence’s team is focused on how enrichments encouraging ‘positive behaviour’ can play a part in farm animal welfare.

“The inclusion of animal-based welfare measures such as the ability to move freely and a positive human-animal relationship among the proposed guiding principles for World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) animal welfare standards reflects that positive welfare is now an active topic of discussion on the world stage,” explained Professor Lawrence.

The project formed part of Andrea Roe's artist-in-residence programme and revealed the pigs’ great enthusiasm for investigative play.

“Throughout the process of designing and making the objects we thought about what matters to pigs and carefully crafted objects that they could interact with and which would fit their body proportions,” she said.

Visitors to the Roslin Institute can view the video until the end of June. 

Image (C) Norrie Russell/The Roslin Institute

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Antibiotic Amnesty survey opens

News Story 1
 The Responsible Use of Medicines Alliance - Companion Animal and Equine (RUMA - CA&E) has launched a survey which seeks to measure the success of this year's Antibiotic Amnesty campaign.

Its results will help the group to calculate how many unused or out-of-date antibiotics were returned as part of the campaign throughout November. Practices are also asked how they engaged with clients to raise awareness of the issue.

Participating practices can enter a prize draw to win up to 100 in vouchers for taking part. Further prizes from BSAVA and Webinar Vet will be available for practices with the best input.

The survey takes a few minutes to complete and will be running throughout December. It can be accessed via this link

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA survey investigates sheep worrying

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has launched its latest survey to better understand the severity of sheep worrying in the UK.

The survey will be open until Friday, 21 February 2025. UK sheep farmers are invited to share their experiences of sheep worrying by dogs and its impact on the industry.

NSA has been gathering information about sheep worrying for over 10 years as part of its campaign to raise awareness of incidents and produce new ways of educating the public.

Sheep worrying, often caused by dogs being loose near fields, can result in physical injury, miscarriage and death of animals affected.

The results of the survey will be shared with interested parties, including the UK press, before spring and ahead of lambing season next year.

For more information, or to complete the survey, visit NSA's website.