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Microbiological air quality in free-farrowing housing systems for sows
E Lühken1, T Nicolaisen1, J Stracke1
1Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behaviour, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, D-30173 Hannover, Germany.
Veterinary and Animal Science
|August 1, 2020
Summary
Free-farrowing housing systems for sows do not compromise microbiological air quality compared to conventional crates. Air quality parameters like total airborne bacteria and haemolytic streptococci increased over time but did not differ significantly between systems.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Environmental Health
- Microbiology
Background:
- Free-farrowing systems are emerging as alternatives to traditional farrowing crates for lactating sows, driven by animal welfare concerns.
- Evaluating the air hygienic characteristics of these novel housing systems is crucial for their widespread adoption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the microbiological air quality of free-farrowing housing systems (group housing and loose-housing) with conventional farrowing crates for lactating sows.
- To identify factors influencing air quality within these different housing environments.
Main Methods:
- Microbiological air quality was assessed in group housing (GH), loose-housing (LH), and farrowing crate (FC) systems over a 33-day occupancy period.
- Measurements included total airborne bacteria (TAB), haemolytic streptococci (HS), molds, and yeasts, with samplings at three time points.
- Correlations between air quality parameters and environmental factors (temperature, humidity, CO2, dust, animal weight) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in TAB, HS, molds, or yeasts were found between GH, LH, and FC systems.
- Concentrations of TAB and HS significantly increased over the 33-day occupancy period across all systems.
- Specific correlations between TAB/HS and environmental factors varied across the housing systems.
Conclusions:
- The tested free-farrowing housing systems (GH and LH) do not inherently result in poorer microbiological air quality compared to conventional farrowing crates.
- Air quality management, focusing on factors like dust and humidity, remains important regardless of the housing system used.
