Management of the deep bedding system in pig farming: An alternative to improve production and animal welfare in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Successful pig farming needs the best conditions of cleanliness in the housings. The present study examined for the first time whether a robot scraper usually applied in dairy farming is usable in sow housings for cleaning the slatted floors and improving hygiene and thus animal welfare. For evaluating the suitability of the robot scraper with regard to the cleaning performance (polluted surface area and occluded slots), the whole housing area was divided into score-squares, which were individually scored at defined intervals. Selected excrement quantities removed by the robot were weighed. In order to assess the animals’ interactions with the robot scraper, their behaviour towards the device was observed. Although the faeces of pigs had a firmer consistency than bovine excrement, excrement quantities of up to 1.4 kg m−2 were almost completely removed. Even 6 h after the cleaning its effect was still visible. Dry-cleaning led faster to nonslip surfaces for the sows than wet-cleaning. Within half an hour of observation, up to 8.2 of 120 sows were occupied with the robot scraper, but without harming it. The use of robot scrapers in pig housings is recommended, although slight technical modifications should be made to the robot scraper.

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The Concept of Animal Welfare at the Interface between Producers and Scientists: The Example of Organic Pig Farming

Acta Biotheoretica ◽

10.1007/s10441-011-9135-z ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 59 (2) ◽

pp. 173-183 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Christine Leeb

Keyword(s):

Animal Welfare ◽

Pig Farming

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Optimising pig welfare at the weaning and nursery stage

Understanding the behaviour and improving the welfare of pigs - Burleigh Dodds Series in Agricultural Science ◽

10.19103/as.2020.0081.05 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 177-208

Author(s):

Nicole Kemper ◽

Keyword(s):

Animal Welfare ◽

Influencing Factors ◽

Social Stress ◽

Pig Farming ◽

Weaning Age ◽

Special Concern ◽

And Performance

The welfare of pigs at the nursery stage is an area of special concern because of the manifold influencing factors that have the potential to decrease seriously the piglets’ wellbeing. Especially the separation from their mother sow in combination with a very young weaning age in modern pig farming, the new environment they are brought in, hitherto unknown sources of feed and water, and regrouping with non-litter mates represent big challenges. To help the piglets as best as possible to overcome these challenges is key for animal welfare, health and performance. In this chapter, the most important fields of environmental, nutritional and social stress are explained, and strategies to increase weaners’ welfare are summarised. The importance of trained and skilled stockmen is emphasised, because without a careful eye on the piglets and consideration of all possible negative and positive influencing factors, pig welfare at the nursery stage cannot be realised.

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The brazilian pig industry can adopt european welfare standards: a critical analysis

Ciência Rural ◽

10.1590/0103-8478cr20141040 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 45 (6) ◽

pp. 1079-1086 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Cleandro Pazinato Dias ◽

Caio Abércio da Silva ◽

Xavier Manteca

Keyword(s):

Animal Welfare ◽

Critical Analysis ◽

Pork Production ◽

Pig Farming ◽

Global Standards ◽

Pig Farms ◽

The 1960S

Animal welfare is an issue of growing concern worldwide. Since the 1960s, Europe has led the discussions on this subject, developing the supporting science and the necessary standards. Currently, European welfare standards on pig farms set the global standards and may represent a potential marketing barrier for commercial pork production. Brazil is one of the largest producers and exporters of pork and has intensified efforts to adapt to the new standards. The objective of this paper is to assess the feasibility of applying European welfare standards to Brazilian industrial pig farming. The complexity of the required changes and the potential advantages to Brazil are discussed, and it is concluded that Brazil has the resources to meet the majority of the requirements

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On visions and promises — ethical aspects of in vitro meat

Emerging Topics in Life Sciences ◽

10.1042/etls20190108 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (6) ◽

pp. 753-758

Author(s):

Silvia Woll

Keyword(s):

Animal Welfare ◽

Environmental Issues ◽

Meat Production ◽

Ethical Aspects ◽

Existing Problems ◽

In Vitro Meat ◽

Production And Consumption ◽

Production Conditions

Innovators of in vitro meat (IVM) are convinced that this approach is the solution for problems related to current meat production and consumption, especially regarding animal welfare and environmental issues. However, the production conditions have yet to be fully clarified and there is still a lack of ethical discourses and critical debates on IVM. In consequence, discussion about the ethical justifiability and desirability of IVM remains hypothetical and we have to question those promises. This paper addresses the complex ethical aspects associated with IVM and the questions of whether, and under what conditions, the production of IVM represents an ethically justifiable solution for existing problems, especially in view of animal welfare, the environment, and society. There are particular hopes regarding the benefits that IVM could bring to animal welfare and the environment, but there are also strong doubts about their ethical benefits.

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