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

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.

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

1993 ◽  
Vol 1993 ◽  
pp. 87-87 ◽  
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.

The use of thesauri in online retrieval

1984 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.P.R. Dubois
Keyword(s):  
Information Retrieval ◽  
Data Base ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Controlled Vocabulary ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Data Bases ◽  
Online Data ◽  
Controlled Vocabularies ◽  
Semantic Maps ◽  
Actual Use

The controlled vocabulary versus the free text approach to information retrieval is reviewed from the mid 1960s to the early 1980s. The dominance of the free text approach following the Cranfield tests is increasingly coming into question as a result of tests on existing online data bases and case studies. This is supported by two case studies on the Coffeeline data base. The differences and values of the two approaches are explored considering thesauri as semantic maps. It is suggested that the most appropriate evaluatory technique for indexing languages is to study the actual use made of various techniques in a wide variety of search environments. Such research is becoming more urgent. Economic and other reasons for the scarcity of online thesauri are reviewed and suggestions are made for methods to secure revenue from thesaurus display facilities. Finally, the promising outlook for renewed develop ment of controlled vocabularies with more effective online display techniques is mentioned, although such development must be based on firm research of user behaviour and needs.

Novel Methods of Incorporating Security Requirements Engineering into Software Engineering Courses and Curricula

2009 ◽  
pp. 98-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy R. Mead ◽  
Dan Shoemaker
Keyword(s):  
Software Engineering ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Requirements Engineering ◽  
Security Requirements ◽  
Course Materials ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Security Requirements Engineering ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Future Plans

This chapter describes methods of incorporating security requirements engineering into software engineering courses and curricula. The chapter discusses the importance of security requirements engineering and the relationship of security knowledge to general computing knowledge by comparing a security body of knowledge to standard computing curricula. Then security requirements is related to standard computing curricula and educational initiatives in security requirements engineering are described, with their results. An expanded discussion of the SQUARE method in security requirements engineering case studies is included, as well as future plans in the area. Future plans include the development and teaching of academic course materials in security requirements engineering, which will then be made available to educators. The authors hope that more educators will be motivated to teach security requirements engineering in their software engineering courses and to incorporate it in their curricula.

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

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (11) ◽  
pp. 1149 ◽  
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.

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

2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 101-109 ◽  
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.

Effect of continuous access to feeding stalls during mixing on behavior, welfare, and performance of group-housed gestating sows in different social ranks

2016 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 386-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lihua H. Wang ◽  
Yuzhi Z. Li
Keyword(s):  
Social Rank ◽  
Skin Lesions ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Group Housing ◽  
Aggressive Interactions ◽  
High Ranking ◽  
Continuous Access ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Reduced Frequency ◽  
And Performance

This study was conducted to evaluate a strategy of using feeding stalls to protect low-ranking sows in group-housing systems. Sows (n = 150, parity 1–9) were mixed at weaning in pens of 15 sows. Control pens allowed sows to access feeding stalls for 1 h of feeding daily during the initial 2 d after mixing. Treatment pens allowed sows to access feeding stalls continuously. Social rank was determined based on outcomes of aggressive interactions among sows after mixing. Low-ranking sows used the feeding stalls more frequently (P < 0.01) than high-ranking sows during the initial 6 h after mixing. Continuous stall access reduced frequency of aggressive interactions (P = 0.05) and, consequently, reduced skin lesions (P = 0.05) of sows in the pen. Neither continuous access to stalls nor social rank affected performance of sows. These results suggest that low-ranking sows used feeding stalls as hiding spaces to escape from aggressive interactions during mixing, which reduced skin lesions caused by aggression and improved the welfare of sows in the group-housing system studied.

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