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Collaborative project: Development and investigation of innovative free farrowing pens for sows under the aspects of behaviour, health, performance, labour and economy - subproject 2 (free farrowing pens 2020)

Project


Project code: 2817204713
Contract period: 27.05.2015 - 26.05.2018
Budget: 27,251 Euro
Purpose of research: Experimental development

The aim of the project is to develop different versions of free farrowing pens, to compare those pens with single crate pens under the aspects of behaviour, health, performance, labour efficiency and economy and to come to conclusions concerning practical use of alternative farrowing systems and amendment of animal protection rules as well. The following methods will be used: measurements of microclimate with data loggers and thermovision camera, video observations before, during and after farrowing and during 2 days in each nursing week, registration of losses and health status (piglet losses, lesions of piglets, treatments of sows), registration of biological performance (e.g. litter size and weight at birth and at weaning, birth weight and weaning weight) and assessment of labour costs and economy in using free farrowing pens compared with traditional single crates (documentation of working time, accomplishment of working time studies at selected days).

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Subjects

  • Animal Husbandry
  • Agricultural Technology Animal Production
  • Animal health
  • Business administration
  • Farm animal behaviour
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