The ‘Pig Toy Construction Manual’ is a collection of instructions for different, easy to build objects for pigs’ entertainment and outcome of the research project La noia dei maiali.
Pigs are very intelligent and easily get bored. The monotony of places like intensive pig farming facilities causes them to start biting each others’ tails and ears as a way to get rid of frustration. In order to prevent that, a European Directive has been implemented which prescribes enrichment material for pig pens.
In reality many farmers provide their livestock with improvised toys, such as chains or ropes, but these gadgets usually don’t address the pigs’ urge for cognitive challenges.
The commercial market offers some solutions which are professionally tested, but the existing products are mostly expensive or not sufficient.
The aim of the project is to acknowledge the make do approach of farmers and support them in building easy and cheap objects which eventually make the pigs’ environment more entertaining and playful.
The project should not be understood as a contribution to support factory farming practices but as a reflection on pig boredom.
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