Influence of A Cooled, Solid Lying Area on the Pen Fouling and Lying Behavior of Fattening Pigs

S. Opderbeck, B. Keßler, W. Gordillio, H. Schrade, Hans-Peter Piepho and Eva Gallmann
Additional contact information
S. Opderbeck: Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 9, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
B. Keßler: Bildungs- und Wissenzentrum Boxberg, Seehöfer Str. 50, 97944 Boxberg-Windischbuch, Germany
W. Gordillio: Bildungs- und Wissenzentrum Boxberg, Seehöfer Str. 50, 97944 Boxberg-Windischbuch, Germany
H. Schrade: Bildungs- und Wissenzentrum Boxberg, Seehöfer Str. 50, 97944 Boxberg-Windischbuch, Germany
Hans-Peter Piepho: Institute of Crop Science, Biostatistics Unit, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstr. 23, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Eva Gallmann: Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 9, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany

Agriculture, 2020, vol. 10, issue 7, 1-19

Abstract: Increasing demands on animal welfare and the higher temperatures in summer due to climate change make it necessary to adapt conventional pig husbandry systems. A cooled, solid lying area has the potential to increase lying comfort and reduce the heat stress, which improves animal welfare. In the present study, the effect of a cooled, solid lying area on lying and elimination behavior was investigated. In two fattening compartments, eight pens with 28 pigs each were rebuilt. Two pen designs, different in feeder place and type, were tested. The floor was cooled from 24.5 to 20 °C by cool water in half of the pens. A total of 672 fattening pigs were tested over three fattening periods. The lying behavior was recorded by video analysis three times per week and three times per day. In the pens with a cooled lying area, 14% (SED 2.9; p = 0.002), respectively 12% (SED 0.9; p = 0.0382) more pigs were lying on the solid lying area. Additionally, the fouling of the animals was reduced by the cooling in one pen design; the results were derived from weekly scores (0.42 vs. 0.67; SED 0.058 p = 0.0006). The fouling of the pen was not affected by the floor cooling, however, the fouling in all pens was very low.

Keywords: cooled lying area; lying behavior; pen fouling; animal fouling; fattening pigs; solid lying area (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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