SO Allison1, KM Pohle2, 1Division of Animal Resources, University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign 2 D

1
Hose as an Environmental Enrichment Toy for
Laboratory Swine (Sus scrofa)
SO Allison1, KM Pohle2,1Division of Animal
Resources, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign 2 Department of Cellular and
Integrative Physiology and Comparative Medicine
Program, Purdue University and Indiana University
School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Methods These two types of hoses were
incorporated into environmental enrichment
programs at two institutions, the University of
Illinois, Urbana Champaign (UIUC) and Purdue
University, Indiana University School of Medicine
(PU-IUSM). Fire hose was used at UIUC and garden
hose at PU-IUSM. Ossabaw swine (Sus scrofa)
received both types of hoses for enrichment at
their respective institutions, while at UIUC
Yorkshire-Landrace swine (Sus scrofa) also
received fire hose for enrichment. At each
facility, swine were housed in groups of two to
four per pen. There was a second enrichment toy
in each pen along with the hoses, including
balls, chains, tires, rubber mats, or plastic
dumbbells. Fire hose (Figure 1) was donated by
the Illinois Fire Service Institute. The fire
hose was made of a synthetic (nylon and
polyester) jacket over a rubber liner. The roll
of hose was cut into individual pieces (length of
0.9 m to 1.8 m, Figure 2) and tied to the pen
gate or wall ring in each pen (Figure 3). These
hoses had been used previously for fire safety
training and no hazardous materials had been used
in the training sessions. Fire hose was
sanitized in a rack washer prior to animal use.
The garden hoses were used at Purdue
University-Indiana University School of Medicine.
They were purchased from a local farm supply
store (Rural King) at a cost of 30 for 15.2 m
length of hose. Garden hose was cut to pieces
varying from 0.5 m to 2.0 m in length. They are
sturdier than a typical garden hose since they
are made of thick rubber. Garden hoses were
secured to the animal pens with bolt and chains.
The hoses can be left in straight sections or
configured into loops, knots, or figure eights
(Figures 4, 5). Garden hoses were secured to the
animal pens with bolt and chains (Figure 6).
Since there is not a rack washer at this
facility, they are run through a dishwasher prior
to use. However, these hoses have been tested and
can withstand water at temperatures up to 82.2
C.
Abstract   The use of laboratory swine in
biomedical research programs requires that
environmental enrichment be provided in order to
promote species typical behavior, such as
chewing. In order to maintain the animals
interest and to be effective in decreasing
destructive behavior, toys should be rotated and
used for a limited time each day. We needed to
expand our options for environmental enrichment,
since several animals destroyed housing pen walls
and floors and were losing interest in the
enrichment toys currently used. We decided to
incorporate into the environmental enrichment
program fire hose at one facility and garden
hoses at the other facility. Both types of hoses
were cost-effective the fire hose was a donation
and the garden hose cost 30 per 15.2 m of
length. The fire hose was a diameter of
approximately 7cm, and pieces were cut from 0.9 m
to 1.8m in length. The fire hoses were attached
to the pen gate or the wall ring in the animals
pens. The garden hoses were 1.9 cm in diameter
and cut to 0.5 to 2.0 m in length. The garden
hoses were shaped into various configurations and
secured with nuts, bolts, and washers to maintain
shape and attached to the enclosure gates.
Approximately 32 pigs were offered fire hose and
80 pigs were offered garden hose for enrichment.
Most animals demonstrated interest in the hoses
by chewing on them. Daily monitoring by the
animal care staff did not reveal any evidence of
injury or ingestion of the hoses. Hoses lasted up
to four months before they needed to be replaced.
Hoses were easily sanitized within a rack washer
or dishwashing machine. We suggest that hoses are
a suitable, safe, and cost-effective addition to
a swine environmental enrichment program.
Results The fire and garden hose shave been used
at both animal facilities without incident. Swine
are monitored daily by animal care staff and
hoses with excessive use or soiling are
discarded. In our experience, garden hose can be
used up to four months before requiring
replacement. The fire hoses last longer, with
several hoses intact and in use to the present
day. The fire hose is difficult to destroy, with
most damage occurring to the hose from tears or
frayed edges. The useful life of either type of
hose may vary depending on the number of animals
using the hoses and the level of interest by the
animals.
Conclusion We caution that as with any enrichment
toy, rotation and variety is important. If hoses
are not rotated and replaced with other toys as
part of an enrichment program, they will lose
their novelty. Fire and garden hoses are safe,
durable, and cost effective toys for use as part
of a swine environmental enrichment program.

• References
• National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the
  Care and Use of Laboratory Animals . 6th ed.
  Washington DC National Academy Press.
• Swindle MM and Smith AC. 2006. Preparation of
  Swine for the Laboratory. ILAR. 47358-363.

Figure 2. Loop of fire hose cut to size from the
roll.
Introduction   Furthermore, environmental
enrichment items (toys) that enhance the
well-being of animals and promotes-species-typical
behaviors should be encouraged 1. Swine have a
need to chew and root within their environment
and bedding is one way to satisfy that need 2. At
our respective animal facilities, swine are
housed on slatted, fiberglass flooring without
bedding. Enrichment items including balls,
chains, tires, rubber mats, or plastic dumbbells
are provided to the swine. Occasionally, we
found that animals would lose interest in these
items and subsequently exhibit destructive
behavior towards the pen environment. We searched
for items that would satisfy the need to chew and
could be added to our environmental enrichment
programs for minimal cost.
Figure 3. Swine investigating the fire hose, tied
to the pen gate.
Figure 1. Roll of fire hose.
Acknowledgements We would like to thank Jamie
Reed, Dr. Rebecca Krisher, and Dr. Lyndon Goodly
(University of Illinois) and Dr. Michael Sturek
(Indiana University School of Medicine) for their
assistance in this project. Support NIH
RR013223, Purdue-Indiana University Comparative
Medicine Program.
Figure 5. Garden hose in a figure eight
configuation, secured with bolts and washers.
Figure 4. Garden hose in a closed-loop
configuration, secured with bolts and washers.
Figure 6. Garden hose attached to pen gate with
chain.