Soiling of Pig Pens: A Review of Eliminative Behaviour
This is a comprehensive review on the pigs’ normal eliminatory behaviour (i.e., defaecation and urination) and pen soiling. This review is aimed primarily at solving issues with pen soiling in current systems, and ultimately at the future design of a well-functioning pig toilet, which we intend to e...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/11/2025 |
| _version_ | 1827702933984116736 |
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| author | Eleonora Nannoni André J.A. Aarnink Herman M. Vermeer Inonge Reimert Michaela Fels Marc B.M. Bracke |
| author_facet | Eleonora Nannoni André J.A. Aarnink Herman M. Vermeer Inonge Reimert Michaela Fels Marc B.M. Bracke |
| author_sort | Eleonora Nannoni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This is a comprehensive review on the pigs’ normal eliminatory behaviour (i.e., defaecation and urination) and pen soiling. This review is aimed primarily at solving issues with pen soiling in current systems, and ultimately at the future design of a well-functioning pig toilet, which we intend to elaborate on in a subsequent publication. In this paper, first, normal elimination is described in relation to what is known about its phylogeny, ontogeny, causation, and function, i.e., according to Tinbergen’s four why questions concerning animal behaviour. Then, pen soiling is described as if it were a medical disorder, highlighting its importance, aetiology, symptoms, diagnosis, pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention. Due to its negative consequences in terms of animal welfare, health, workload, and environmental emissions, possible methods to address pen soiling in current systems are described. Probably, pigs do not choose a specific place to eliminate but rather choose the most comfortable place for resting, and avoid eliminating there. We identified four main strategies to reduce pen soiling: (1) reducing the suitability of the designated elimination area to be used for other functions, especially resting or thermoregulation; (2) improving the suitability of other functional areas in the pen to be used for their specific function, such as resting and activity; (3) reducing the suitability of other functional areas to be used for elimination; and (4) improving the suitability of the elimination area for elimination. These prevention strategies and the encompassing disease framework provide a structured approach to deal with pen soiling in existing systems and to support the future design, development, and implementation of a well-functioning pig toilet that can help to achieve some of the main goals of modern pig production, namely reducing environmental emissions as well as substantially improving pig welfare. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:07:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d50f38a4b89f46ad8f22bcb3ad231f19 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:07:28Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-d50f38a4b89f46ad8f22bcb3ad231f192023-11-20T19:38:30ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-11-011011202510.3390/ani10112025Soiling of Pig Pens: A Review of Eliminative BehaviourEleonora Nannoni0André J.A. Aarnink1Herman M. Vermeer2Inonge Reimert3Michaela Fels4Marc B.M. Bracke5Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, ItalyWageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 WD Wageningen, The NetherlandsWageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 WD Wageningen, The NetherlandsAdaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, 6700 AH Wageningen, The NetherlandsInstitute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behaviour, University of Veterinary Medicine, 30173 Hannover, GermanyWageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 WD Wageningen, The NetherlandsThis is a comprehensive review on the pigs’ normal eliminatory behaviour (i.e., defaecation and urination) and pen soiling. This review is aimed primarily at solving issues with pen soiling in current systems, and ultimately at the future design of a well-functioning pig toilet, which we intend to elaborate on in a subsequent publication. In this paper, first, normal elimination is described in relation to what is known about its phylogeny, ontogeny, causation, and function, i.e., according to Tinbergen’s four why questions concerning animal behaviour. Then, pen soiling is described as if it were a medical disorder, highlighting its importance, aetiology, symptoms, diagnosis, pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention. Due to its negative consequences in terms of animal welfare, health, workload, and environmental emissions, possible methods to address pen soiling in current systems are described. Probably, pigs do not choose a specific place to eliminate but rather choose the most comfortable place for resting, and avoid eliminating there. We identified four main strategies to reduce pen soiling: (1) reducing the suitability of the designated elimination area to be used for other functions, especially resting or thermoregulation; (2) improving the suitability of other functional areas in the pen to be used for their specific function, such as resting and activity; (3) reducing the suitability of other functional areas to be used for elimination; and (4) improving the suitability of the elimination area for elimination. These prevention strategies and the encompassing disease framework provide a structured approach to deal with pen soiling in existing systems and to support the future design, development, and implementation of a well-functioning pig toilet that can help to achieve some of the main goals of modern pig production, namely reducing environmental emissions as well as substantially improving pig welfare.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/11/2025animal welfarepigseliminative behaviourdefecationpen soilinghygiene |
| spellingShingle | Eleonora Nannoni André J.A. Aarnink Herman M. Vermeer Inonge Reimert Michaela Fels Marc B.M. Bracke Soiling of Pig Pens: A Review of Eliminative Behaviour Animals animal welfare pigs eliminative behaviour defecation pen soiling hygiene |
| title | Soiling of Pig Pens: A Review of Eliminative Behaviour |
| title_full | Soiling of Pig Pens: A Review of Eliminative Behaviour |
| title_fullStr | Soiling of Pig Pens: A Review of Eliminative Behaviour |
| title_full_unstemmed | Soiling of Pig Pens: A Review of Eliminative Behaviour |
| title_short | Soiling of Pig Pens: A Review of Eliminative Behaviour |
| title_sort | soiling of pig pens a review of eliminative behaviour |
| topic | animal welfare pigs eliminative behaviour defecation pen soiling hygiene |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/11/2025 |
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