The influence of cooling system on the fattening pig welfare parameters

Abstract

The studies were conducted on groups of fattening pigs aged 3 to 5.5 months, which were kept in four sectors with different air cooling systems. For observation we used the animals assessment technique presented in a Welfare assessment protocol for pigs. It is revealed that the indoor air cooling method at temperatures in the control sector ranged from 19 to 26.6oC does not have a decisive influence on the suite of welfare parameters of fattening pigs (Fatting young pigs. in spring and summer periods closing parenthesis. Cooling method based on air inflow through underground tunnels provides a good level of ventilation, reduces the concentration of harmful gases, and ensures lower humidity as compared to control. At that, it reduces the incidence of cannibalism in pigs (P<0.05). The reduction of animal fouling in sectors with a high content of harmful gases with some reduction in temperature (by 0.8-1.5°C) and increase in relative humidity (by 1.3-4.3%) is possibly due to the inhibition of general activity of animals. The authors revealed also the effect of animal feeding (wet and dry feeding systems) on the animal fouling intensity (P<0.05). The incidence of cannibalism in pigs was decreased in the farm with dry feeding system (P<0.05).