AN ALTERNATIVE HOUSING SYSTEM FOR SOWS

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 957-961 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. MORRIS ◽  
J. F. HURNIK

A group housing system for sows, the Hurnik-Morris (H-M) System, is described which addresses several of the serious animal welfare limitations of existing housing methods. The H-M System permits socially coordinated eating and resting, controlled and socially undisturbed feed consumption, physical exercise and regular exposure to boars. Sows adjusted relatively rapidly to the H-M System, indicating that its design concurs with their perceptual and learning capabilities. Key words: Swine, housing, behavior, welfare

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zsolt Szendrő ◽  
Angela Trocino ◽  
Steffen Hoy ◽  
Gerolamo Xiccato ◽  
Arantxa Villagrá ◽  
...  

<p>The housing of farmed animals is increasingly scrutinised by society and thereby subject to a change towards more animal-friendly systems. For rabbits, also kept as pets, there are no EC regulations regarding their housing under farming conditions. In many countries, studies have been carried out to improve their welfare and health under current and alternative housing systems. This paper reviews and integrates the research efforts made since the EFSA report in 2005 on reproducing rabbit does and provides some conclusions, where possible, with special emphasis on animal welfare according to the principles stated by the Welfare Quality® project, i.e. good housing, good health and appropriate behaviour. The use of an elevated platform provides greater opportunities for does and their kits to move, jumping up and down. Management and housing systems (especially flooring) must guarantee good hygienic conditions (all-in, all-out) and separation of the rabbits from their excreta for proper resting places, hygiene and health. Plastic floors and footrests and environmental enrichments (e.g. gnawing material) are also recommended. Continuous group housing systems for reproducing females have been definitively proven to challenge animal welfare by increased aggression and injuries among does and to kits. Part-time group housing systems have proven to have potential, but cannot yet be recommended in farms until major problems of aggression and injuries among animals are solved.</p>


animal ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (12) ◽  
pp. 1809-1817 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Hänninen ◽  
L. Ahola ◽  
T. Pyykönen ◽  
H.T. Korhonen ◽  
J. Mononen

Agriculture ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eyke Lühken ◽  
Thies Nicolaisen ◽  
Britta Risch ◽  
Nina Volkmann ◽  
Sandra Schnier ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to analyze the air quality in two different commercially available free-farrowing systems in comparison with a conventional farrowing crate system. A group housing system for six lactating sows (GH) and a single loose-housing system (LH) were tested against systems with farrowing crates (FC) under similar conditions. In eight evaluated batches with 148 farrowings, measurements were performed at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of the occupancy period of 33 days. The mean dust concentration was significantly higher in GH than in LH and FC at the mid-point. The mean ammonia concentration was significantly higher in GH compared to LH and FC at the beginning of occupancy. The mean concentration of endotoxins was significantly higher in FC than in LH and GH at the end of occupancy. Furthermore, the systems did not differ significantly from each other. Spearman’s analysis revealed correlations between dust and time of occupancy, between ammonia and carbon dioxide, and between ammonia and the inside temperature and outside temperature. The new husbandry systems offer animals more opportunities to move without endangering animal welfare through deteriorated air hygiene.


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
ZS. Szendrő ◽  
J.I. McNitt ◽  
ZS. Matics ◽  
A. Mikó ◽  
ZS. Gerencsér

The main results and observations on group and individually housed rabbit does were reviewed by Szendrő and McNitt in 2012, but in recent years several new papers in this field have been published. This provides a new opportunity to summarise the current knowledge on alternative housing systems for breeding does. In Switzerland, rabbit does are generally housed in group systems. The recently legislated Belgian and Dutch housing systems will be converted step by step into group housing systems. Recent research demonstrated that with semi-group housing systems much better performance levels are possible than with the Swiss group housing system. However, solutions to eliminate aggression, stress and injuries which are common among rabbit does in group housing systems have yet to be found. Some authors are of the opinion that individual cages are too small and allow limited possibilities for movement and social contact. Positive results were seen when platforms were inserted into the cages and the possibility for movement increased. The does and their kits could jump up and down using the platforms. Using footrests, the incidence of sore hocks declined. Several environmental enrichments which increase the well-being of rabbit does can also be used. These enriched cages (equipped with platforms, footrests, gnawing sticks, etc.) are fully in line with animal welfare requirements. Increasing the size of cages and enriching them increases the production cost and the meat will be more expensive.


Author(s):  
Himani Tewari ◽  
Sanjay Kumar ◽  
Rajshree Rath ◽  
Kalpana Tyagi

A field survey was conducted to collect the information on existing housing and breeding management practices followed by the dairy animal owners in Tarai region of Uttarakhand. The results revealed that 91.25 per cent of farmers adopted group housing system for their animals. Kuccha type of floor and asbestos roof was observed in 79.38 per cent and 26.25 per cent of animal houses respectively. Poor drainage facility was observed in 41.50 per cent of animal sheds. About, 89.38 per cent farmers provided their animals with provision of shade from trees. Around, 87.50 per cent farmers considered body weight as the main criteria to consider first time mating and 83.00 per cent farmers relied on mucus discharge along with bellowing as most important signs of heat detection. 98.12 per cent of farmers preferred artificial insemination over natural service as method of mating in their animals, but only 9.00 per cent farmers relied upon the views given by experienced veterinarians. About, 88.13 per cent of farmers practiced mating through A.I or natural service between 8 to 12 hours after heat detection. Pregnancy diagnosis was preferred by only few of farmers 6.00 per cent however, it was performed by qualified veterinarian in 2.50 per cent cases. All of the farmers adopted the practice of maintenance of breeding records of their animals.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 541-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zofia Sokołowicz ◽  
Józefa Krawczyk ◽  
Magdalena Dykiel

Abstract The present study investigated the effect of the type of alternative housing system, and genotype and age of laying hens on physical traits of egg shell and contents. It was demonstrated that alternative housing system type influenced egg weight and shape, and eggshell color and yolk color intensity. Eggs from free-range system were heavier and were characterized by more intense yolk color. No effect of alternative housing system type on albumen height, value of Haugh units (HU value) and presence of meat and blood spots was noted. Hen genotype had a significant effect on egg weight and eggshell color intensity in each of the alternative housing systems tested in this study. Hy-line Brown hens laid heavier eggs than hens of native breeds. Genotype was also observed to affect egg content traits (albumen height, HU values and presence of meat and blood spots). Independently of the type of alternative housing system, most blood and meat spots were noted in eggs of hens laying brown-shelled eggs, i.e. R-11 and Hy-line Brown layers. Laying hen age significantly impacted on egg weight, yolk percentage, eggshell traits (color intensity, weight, thickness and strength) and egg content traits (HU value, yolk weight and color intensity, presence of meat and blood spots). Older hens laid heavier eggs with a greater yolk percentage but with thinner eggshell.


2018 ◽  
Vol 216 ◽  
pp. 51-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.G.E. Grimberg-Henrici ◽  
K. Büttner ◽  
R.Y. Ladewig ◽  
O. Burfeind ◽  
J. Krieter

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Licitra ◽  
Laura Perillo ◽  
Francesco Antoci ◽  
Giuseppe Piccione ◽  
Claudia Giannetto ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The welfare of farm animals has become a growing concern in recent years. This is the first study that assesses dairy cow welfare by the application of an impartial, reproducible, functional check-list based on risk analysis which provides a numerical animal welfare index to each farm. We tested the effect of two different management conditions, housing with free access to pasture and indoor housing, on dairy cows kept in 36 farms and concurrently carried out the evaluation of different infectious diseases. Animal welfare assessment was performed in each farm through the CReNBA’s check-list. Moreover, the prevalence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, Chlamydiophila abortus, Neospora caninum, Bovine Herpesvirus specific antibodies IgB and IgE and of Bovine Viral Diarrhea virus was tested in each farm through ELISA serological test. Unpaired t-Test was applied to assess differences among the two experimental groups; while, Kendall’s Tau coefficient (T) was determined to investigate the relationship between studied variables. Results: The result of each area provided an indication of the burden and importance of each of these on the final calculation of the animal welfare value. ELISA was positive with different mean percentages. The application of Unpaired t-Test showed that the intensive housing system group had higher percentages of Bovine Herpesvirus specific antibodies IgB compared to the extensive housing system group. The application of Kendall’s Tau coefficient showed different correlations between studied areas and infectious diseases. Conclusion: The hazard analysis areas assessed farming and management conditions of the farms, but these may have different effects as they are regulated by the animals’ ability to adapt and are therefore less important when establishing the final welfare value. Those farms with the highest prevalence of infections could be associated with a poor level of business management. A proper evaluation of the problems encountered and a more accurate application of the check-list could prevent and control the spread of infections in farms. Our results want to be a contribution in breeding which provides farmers and veterinarians the instruments to improve animal welfare and farm business performance.


2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 749-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilith Schrey ◽  
Nicole Kemper ◽  
Michaela Fels

1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 733-741 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. FRIEND ◽  
H. L. TRENHOLM ◽  
K. E. HARTIN ◽  
J. C. YOUNG ◽  
B. K. THOMPSON

Six groups each of five barrows and five gilts were offered ad libitum one of six pelleted diets containing 68% wheat. A pellet binder was added (1.5%) to all diets. There were three clean wheat diets, one unsupplemented, one supplemented with a binding agent (Antitox Vana) and another with Fusarium graminearum inoculated corn; also, three vomitoxin-contaminated wheat diets, one unsupplemented, one supplemented with Antitox Vana and another with ammonium carbonate. Vomitoxin content was negligible in the clean wheat (control) diet, and was about 5 mg/kg in the three contaminated diets and 14 mg/kg in the inoculated corn diet. Pigs weighed 35 kg initially and a necropsy was conducted on each after 5 wk on experiment. Feed consumption was reduced 15–17% with the contaminated wheat diets, and approximately 50% with the inoculated corn diet from which effect the pigs seemed never to recover to the level of those fed the contaminated wheat diets. Discoloration of the stomach mucosa, and epithelial thickening of the esophageal area occurred in more pigs fed the contaminated wheat diets than those fed the clean wheat (control) diet, and a more marked response was evoked by the inoculated corn diet. The addition of the binding agent or the ammonium carbonate did not appear in this experiment to alleviate any of these effects. Key words: Vomitoxin, deoxynivalenol, antitoxin, wheat, inoculated corn, pigs


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