Effect of Feeding Schedule on Ammonia Emission from Individual and Group-housing Systems for Sows

ABSTRACT Ethinyloestradiol (EO) fed for various periods before mating to female hamsters affected the timing of mating and pregnancy rate. Slight effects on ovulation, foetal-crown rump length and resorption may have occurred, but effects on implantation were not apparent among pregnant hamsters. The response observed depended upon the feeding schedule adopted: hamsters fed 2.5 mg EO in a single dose, on day 3 before mating, mated normally but had a significantly lower pregnancy rate; on the other hand, animals fed 2.5 mg EO (0.21 mg/day) over three oestrous cycles, days 14–3 before mating, showed variations in the time of mating but had an essentially normal pregnancy rate; and, a group of hamsters who received the same total amount of EO (0.63 mg/day) over one oestrous cycle, days 6–3 premating, showed untowards effects by the steroid on both the timing of mating and pregnancy rate. The implications of these results are considered in relation to fertility control.

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Emission of harmful gases from animal production in Poland

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment ◽

10.1007/s10661-021-09118-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 193 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Kamila Mazur ◽

Kamil Roman ◽

Witold Jan Wardal ◽

Kinga Borek ◽

Jan Barwicki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Dioxide ◽

Ammonia Concentration ◽

Herd Size ◽

Animal Production ◽

Ammonia Emission ◽

Emission Rates ◽

Housing Systems ◽

Air Exchange Rate ◽

Microclimate Conditions ◽

Air Exchange

AbstractThe aim of the study was to present the scale of greenhouse gas emissions from animal production, and to provide test results from different housing systems. In three free stall buildings, two with slurry in deep channels and one with cattle in cubicles staying on shallow litter concentration of ammonia and carbon dioxide were measured in summer season by using dedicated equipment from Industrial Scientific Research. Air exchange was calculated on the base of balance carbon dioxide method. This method was used in order to estimate the air flow rate. Concentrations of ammonia and CO2 were measured as the base for air exchange and ammonia emission rates. Ammonia emissions were product of ammonia concentration and air exchange rate. Temperature and relative humidity were measured to establish microclimate conditions in buildings tested to show the overall microclimatic situation in buildings. Differences between ammonia emission rates were observed in both housing systems. The highest ammonia emission rate was equal to 2.75 g·h−1·LU−1 in well-ventilated cattle barn with the largest herd size.

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Are aggressiveness and social status of group housed sows predictable from observations of earlier behaviour?

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) ◽

10.1017/s0308229600024132 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 1993 ◽

pp. 87-87 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M. Mendl

Keyword(s):

Social Status ◽

Social Behaviour ◽

Time Consistency ◽

Individual Characteristics ◽

Individual Characteristic ◽

Group Housing ◽

Housing Systems ◽

Induced Stress ◽

General Decrease ◽

Fundamental Understanding

The forthcoming UK ban on stall and tether housing for sows will result in an increase in the use of group housing for these animals. In group housing systems, certain individuals may be particularly aggressive or bullied by others, and this may result in injury or socially induced stress. To attempt to overcome these problems we need to know the answers to questions such as whether removal of a particularly aggressive animal from a group will result in a general decrease in aggression, or whether it will simply result in other animals becoming more aggressive. Answers to these sorts of question require a fundamental understanding of pig social behaviour and individual characteristics. For example, is aggressivness a stable individual characteristic across time and situation? This research addressed these issues by examining the cross-time consistency of individual aggressiveness and social status in groups of pigs.

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AMMONIA EMISSION FROM DAIRY AND PIG HOUSING SYSTEMS

Odour and Ammonia Emissions from Livestock Farming ◽

10.4324/9780203215975-6 ◽

2003 ◽

pp. 42-53

Keyword(s):

Ammonia Emission ◽

Housing Systems

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Nutritional management of group-housed gestating sows – key challenges in the transition from stall-housing systems

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an13277 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 53 (11) ◽

pp. 1149 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

R. J. van Barneveld

Keyword(s):

Low Cost ◽

Capital Cost ◽

Nutritional Management ◽

Group Housing ◽

Housing Systems ◽

Aggression Management ◽

Breeding Herd ◽

Nutritional Needs ◽

Rapid Transition ◽

The Cost

Transition from gestation stalls to group-housing systems is a source of trepidation for many pork producers, given the capital cost of conversion and the challenges associated with managing sows in groups. Despite this, market imperatives in Australia have led to rapid transition in many enterprises. The cost of conversion of a 4100-sow unit from stalls to groups using low-cost retrofitting of existing breeder space (AU$150.00/sow) at relatively high densities (1.8 m2/sow) in small static groups (15–20 sows) based on floor or trough feeding with or without head bales and shoulder partitions equates to an additional cost of $3.00/piglet weaned if the level of productivity is maintained. If the number of piglets born per litter is increased by 1.04 piglets per litter, overall earnings of the herd are equal to levels achieved before the transition. This capital cost appears manageable if appropriate nutritional regimens are implemented to address individual nutritional needs of sows housed in groups and to manage aggression. Management of sow body condition during the reproductive cycle focussed on standardised gilt introduction to the breeding herd and optimisation of sow and gilt feed intake in lactation is pivotal, as it reduces the need for remedial feeding of individual sows post-weaning and during gestation. Nutritional management can also be used to reduce aggression between sows by removing impediments to feed access and by induction of satiety. Commercial implementation of these strategies confirms their relevance and demonstrates that sows can be cost-effectively managed in group-housing systems.

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Prevalence and risk factors of claw lesions and lameness in pregnant sows in two types of group housing

Veterinární Medicína ◽

10.17221/3159-vetmed ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 56 (No. 3) ◽

pp. 101-109 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

L. Pluym ◽

A. Van Nuffel ◽

J. Dewulf ◽

A. Cools ◽

F. Vangroenweghe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Economic Loss ◽

Housing System ◽

Free Access ◽

Group Housing ◽

Related Factors ◽

Housing Systems ◽

Individual Housing ◽

Claw Lesions ◽

Locomotor Disorders

Claw lesions and lameness in sows are an important welfare concern as well as a cause of considerable economic loss. These problems are more common in group housing than in individual housing systems. Given that group housing for gestating sows will become mandatory in the EU from 2013 onwards, the aim of the present study was: (1) to determine the prevalence of lameness and claw lesions in sows housed in groups during gestation, and (2) to analyze whether the type of group housing system and sow-related factors were associated with lameness and claw lesions. Eight Belgian pig herds with group housing of gestating sows were selected. Four herds used pens with electronic sow feeders (dynamic groups), the other four herds kept their sows in free access stalls (static groups). All sows were visually examined for lameness at the end of gestation. Claw lesions were scored after parturition. Information about feed, housing conditions and culling (strategy) was collected, as well as information about parity and breed. Of all 421 assessed sows, on average 9.7% (min. 2.4%, max. 23.1%) were lame. Almost 99% of the sows had one or more claw lesion with overgrowth of heel horn (93%) and cracks in the wall (52%) as the most prevalent lesions. Neither for lameness nor claw lesions was significant differences found between the two types of group housing. Lameness decreased while the mean claw lesion score increased with ageing. These results suggest that lameness can be caused by reasons other than claw lesions, especially in older sows. Although no difference was found between the two types of group housing, a huge variation between herds was observed. Moreover, as the prevalence of lameness and claw lesions in group housing is quite high and group housing will become mandatory in 2013, further investigation on risk factors of locomotor disorders in sows is necessary.

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The effect of liquid feeding in a deep straw system on sow behaviour and welfare

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) ◽

10.1017/s030822960002729x ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 1994 ◽

pp. 184-184

Author(s):

P.J. Baynes ◽

E.J. Hunter ◽

H.J. Guise ◽

R.H.C. Penny

Keyword(s):

Data Base ◽

Case Studies ◽

General Purpose ◽

Total Space ◽

Group Housing ◽

Housing Systems ◽

Liquid Feeding ◽

Housing Options ◽

Future Plans

A survey of dry sow housing across England (Baynes and Hunter, 1993) was conducted to assess farmers' future plans and opinions regarding the onset of the 1999 ban relating to stall and tether housing systems. Results from this survey showed that approximately one third of English pig producers currently with these types of systems were undecided as to which system to choose. A number of case studies are currently being conducted on existing group-housed systems to contribute to a data base on group housing options.Sows were housed in a general purpose barn which had been divided into 12 pens, each housing ten sows. Sows were liquid fed once a day in a common trough with partial barriers. Total space allowance was 2.96m2/sow, of which 1.23m2was kennelled.

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