Factors affecting excretory behavior of pigs

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Agricultural Engineering
• Ethology

Background:

• Understanding factors influencing pig excretory behavior is crucial for optimizing animal welfare and farm management.
• Pen design and management practices can significantly impact animal health and productivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of partition type, pig density, drinker position, and prior training on the excretory behavior and growth rate of growing-finishing pigs.
• To identify optimal pen configurations for improved pen cleanliness and animal performance.

Main Methods:

• A 2(4) factorial experiment was conducted with 1,104 pigs (28.4 to 91.4 kg).
• Factors included partition type (open/closed), pig density (9 or 14 pigs/pen), drinker position (back/side), and prior training (yes/no).
• Pen cleanliness was assessed using a dung scoring system, and growth rate was measured.

Main Results:

• Higher pig density (14 pigs/pen) significantly reduced growth rate compared to lower density (9 pigs/pen).
• Closed partitions resulted in significantly cleaner pens compared to open partitions.
• Pen dirtiness increased with pig age/weight.
• No significant effects of partition type, drinker position, or prior training on growth rate were observed.

Conclusions:

• Closed partitions are recommended for improving pen cleanliness in growing-finishing pig operations.
• Reducing pig density can enhance growth performance.
• Interactions between partition type, pig density, and water position warrant further investigation for optimizing pen design.