ANIMAL WELFARE AND ECONOMIC OPTIMISATION OF FARROWING SYSTEMS

Bouda Vosough Ahmadi, Emma M. Baxter, Alistair W. Stott, Alistair Lawrence and Sandra Edwards

No 61124, Working Papers from Scotland's Rural College (formerly Scottish Agricultural College), Land Economy & Environment Research Group

Abstract: Currently, farrowing crates dominate indoor pig farrowing in the UK (~ 60% of herds). Such systems raise welfare problems due to close confinement of the sow. Although, many alternative housing systems have been developed in different countries, no commercially viable/feasible option has emerged for large-scale units. We have reviewed current scientific and practical knowledge of farrowing systems to identify alternative systems, their welfare and production potential. Our aim is to establish acceptable trade-offs between profit and welfare within alternative farrowing systems using linear programming, hence designing high welfare but commercially viable alternatives to the farrowing crate. System-specific results of interactions between welfare components and financial performances have been analysed and presented in this paper.

Keywords: Livestock; Production/Industries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:srlewp:61124

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.61124

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