SO Allison 1, KM Pohle 2, 1 Division 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 Hose as an Environmental Enrichment Toy for Laboratory Swine (Sus scrofa) 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. 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. 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. 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 animal’s 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. 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. 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. Figure 3. Swine investigating the fire hose, tied to the pen gate. Figure 2. Loop of fire hose cut to size from the roll. Figure 6. Garden hose attached to pen gate with chain. Figure 4. Garden hose in a closed-loop configuration, secured with bolts and washers. Figure 1. Roll of fire hose. References 1.National Research Council Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. 6 th ed. Washington DC: National Academy Press. 2.Swindle MM and Smith AC Preparation of Swine for the Laboratory. ILAR. 47: Figure 5. Garden hose in a figure eight configuation, secured with bolts and washers.