The Effects of Pen Size and Design, Bedding, Rooting Material and Ambient Factors on Pen and Pig Cleanliness and Air Quality in Fattening Pig Houses

There are several environmental and ambient factors that can affect pig eliminative behaviour. The aim of this survey was to investigate factors related to the physical and ambient environment that have the strongest effects on pig and pen cleanliness and ammonia concentration. Data were collected f...

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Main Authors: Marko Ocepek, Inger Lise Andersen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-06-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/12/1580
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author Marko Ocepek
Inger Lise Andersen
author_facet Marko Ocepek
Inger Lise Andersen
author_sort Marko Ocepek
collection DOAJ
description There are several environmental and ambient factors that can affect pig eliminative behaviour. The aim of this survey was to investigate factors related to the physical and ambient environment that have the strongest effects on pig and pen cleanliness and ammonia concentration. Data were collected from 87 pig farms and analysed using mixed (ammonia concentration) or generalized linear (pen and pig cleanliness) model in SAS. The pen was cleaner when pen partitions were open compared to closed (<i>p</i> = 0.010) and increased with increasing amount of litter (<i>p</i> = 0.002), using straw (<i>p</i> = 0.002) as rooting material. Pig cleanliness was higher when pen partitions in the eliminative area were open compared to closed (<i>p</i> = 0.007) and increased with increasing space per pig in the resting area (<i>p</i> < 0.001), with decreasing temperature (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and lowering of air velocity (<i>p</i> = 0.003). Other factors that increased cleanliness was using straw as rooting material (<i>p</i> = 0.028) and increasing amount of litter in the resting area (<i>p</i> = 0.002). Ammonia concentration was reduced with increasing floor space in the eliminative area (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and increasing amount of litter (<i>p</i> = 0.006). Our results pinpoint physical and ambient conditions affecting pen and pig cleanliness and air quality.
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spelling doaj.art-930aa795b9c54c5cabf74b1794e9e4da2023-11-23T15:15:31ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-06-011212158010.3390/ani12121580The Effects of Pen Size and Design, Bedding, Rooting Material and Ambient Factors on Pen and Pig Cleanliness and Air Quality in Fattening Pig HousesMarko Ocepek0Inger Lise Andersen1Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1432 Aas, NorwayDepartment of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1432 Aas, NorwayThere are several environmental and ambient factors that can affect pig eliminative behaviour. The aim of this survey was to investigate factors related to the physical and ambient environment that have the strongest effects on pig and pen cleanliness and ammonia concentration. Data were collected from 87 pig farms and analysed using mixed (ammonia concentration) or generalized linear (pen and pig cleanliness) model in SAS. The pen was cleaner when pen partitions were open compared to closed (<i>p</i> = 0.010) and increased with increasing amount of litter (<i>p</i> = 0.002), using straw (<i>p</i> = 0.002) as rooting material. Pig cleanliness was higher when pen partitions in the eliminative area were open compared to closed (<i>p</i> = 0.007) and increased with increasing space per pig in the resting area (<i>p</i> < 0.001), with decreasing temperature (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and lowering of air velocity (<i>p</i> = 0.003). Other factors that increased cleanliness was using straw as rooting material (<i>p</i> = 0.028) and increasing amount of litter in the resting area (<i>p</i> = 0.002). Ammonia concentration was reduced with increasing floor space in the eliminative area (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and increasing amount of litter (<i>p</i> = 0.006). Our results pinpoint physical and ambient conditions affecting pen and pig cleanliness and air quality.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/12/1580pig and pen cleanlinessammonia concentrationpen designrooting materialtemperatureair velocity
spellingShingle Marko Ocepek
Inger Lise Andersen
The Effects of Pen Size and Design, Bedding, Rooting Material and Ambient Factors on Pen and Pig Cleanliness and Air Quality in Fattening Pig Houses
Animals
pig and pen cleanliness
ammonia concentration
pen design
rooting material
temperature
air velocity
title The Effects of Pen Size and Design, Bedding, Rooting Material and Ambient Factors on Pen and Pig Cleanliness and Air Quality in Fattening Pig Houses
title_full The Effects of Pen Size and Design, Bedding, Rooting Material and Ambient Factors on Pen and Pig Cleanliness and Air Quality in Fattening Pig Houses
title_fullStr The Effects of Pen Size and Design, Bedding, Rooting Material and Ambient Factors on Pen and Pig Cleanliness and Air Quality in Fattening Pig Houses
title_full_unstemmed The Effects of Pen Size and Design, Bedding, Rooting Material and Ambient Factors on Pen and Pig Cleanliness and Air Quality in Fattening Pig Houses
title_short The Effects of Pen Size and Design, Bedding, Rooting Material and Ambient Factors on Pen and Pig Cleanliness and Air Quality in Fattening Pig Houses
title_sort effects of pen size and design bedding rooting material and ambient factors on pen and pig cleanliness and air quality in fattening pig houses
topic pig and pen cleanliness
ammonia concentration
pen design
rooting material
temperature
air velocity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/12/1580
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