Water Distribution Systems in Pig Farm Buildings: Critical Elements of Design and Management
Drinking water distribution systems (WDSs) within buildings on pig farms have critical elements of their design and management that impact water provision to pigs, water quality, the efficacy of in-water antimicrobial dosing, and, thus, pig health and performance. We used a mixed-methods approach to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/11/3268 |
| _version_ | 1797511521624915968 |
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| author | Stephen Little Andrew Woodward Glenn Browning Helen Billman-Jacobe |
| author_facet | Stephen Little Andrew Woodward Glenn Browning Helen Billman-Jacobe |
| author_sort | Stephen Little |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Drinking water distribution systems (WDSs) within buildings on pig farms have critical elements of their design and management that impact water provision to pigs, water quality, the efficacy of in-water antimicrobial dosing, and, thus, pig health and performance. We used a mixed-methods approach to survey managers of 25 medium to large single-site and multi-site pig farming enterprises across eastern and southern Australia. We found wide variation in the configuration (looped or branched) and total length of WDSs within buildings across farms and in pipe materials and diameters. Within many conventional buildings and some eco-shelters, WDSs were ‘over-sized’, comprising large-diameter main pipelines with high holding volumes, resulting in slow velocity water flows through sections of a WDS’s main pipeline. In over half of the weaner buildings and one-third of grower/finisher buildings, the number of pigs per drinker exceeded the recommended maximum. Few farms measured flow rates from drinkers quantitatively. WDS sanitization was not practiced on many farms, and few managers were aware of the risks to water quality and pig health. We identified important aspects of water provision to pigs for which valuable recommendations could be added to industry guidelines available to pig farm managers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:46:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c78e9927e64c4bc996d51acc3381f321 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:46:30Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-c78e9927e64c4bc996d51acc3381f3212023-11-22T22:08:02ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-11-011111326810.3390/ani11113268Water Distribution Systems in Pig Farm Buildings: Critical Elements of Design and ManagementStephen Little0Andrew Woodward1Glenn Browning2Helen Billman-Jacobe3Asia Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, and National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, AustraliaMelbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, AustraliaAsia Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, and National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, AustraliaAsia Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, and National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, AustraliaDrinking water distribution systems (WDSs) within buildings on pig farms have critical elements of their design and management that impact water provision to pigs, water quality, the efficacy of in-water antimicrobial dosing, and, thus, pig health and performance. We used a mixed-methods approach to survey managers of 25 medium to large single-site and multi-site pig farming enterprises across eastern and southern Australia. We found wide variation in the configuration (looped or branched) and total length of WDSs within buildings across farms and in pipe materials and diameters. Within many conventional buildings and some eco-shelters, WDSs were ‘over-sized’, comprising large-diameter main pipelines with high holding volumes, resulting in slow velocity water flows through sections of a WDS’s main pipeline. In over half of the weaner buildings and one-third of grower/finisher buildings, the number of pigs per drinker exceeded the recommended maximum. Few farms measured flow rates from drinkers quantitatively. WDS sanitization was not practiced on many farms, and few managers were aware of the risks to water quality and pig health. We identified important aspects of water provision to pigs for which valuable recommendations could be added to industry guidelines available to pig farm managers.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/11/3268drinking waterwater distribution systemhydraulic performanceflow ratespig drinkerswater sanitization |
| spellingShingle | Stephen Little Andrew Woodward Glenn Browning Helen Billman-Jacobe Water Distribution Systems in Pig Farm Buildings: Critical Elements of Design and Management Animals drinking water water distribution system hydraulic performance flow rates pig drinkers water sanitization |
| title | Water Distribution Systems in Pig Farm Buildings: Critical Elements of Design and Management |
| title_full | Water Distribution Systems in Pig Farm Buildings: Critical Elements of Design and Management |
| title_fullStr | Water Distribution Systems in Pig Farm Buildings: Critical Elements of Design and Management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Water Distribution Systems in Pig Farm Buildings: Critical Elements of Design and Management |
| title_short | Water Distribution Systems in Pig Farm Buildings: Critical Elements of Design and Management |
| title_sort | water distribution systems in pig farm buildings critical elements of design and management |
| topic | drinking water water distribution system hydraulic performance flow rates pig drinkers water sanitization |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/11/3268 |
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