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Collaborative project: Design, construction and test of a trough for nuzzling to facilitate species-appropriate feeding of litterless pigs – Subproject 1
Project
Project code: 2813701210
Contract period: 01.08.2010
- 31.07.2013
Budget: 230,832 Euro
Purpose of research: Experimental development
In this project, an innovative toy for pigs was developed. In production systems without the practicability for the use of bedding materials a species-appropriate burrowing behavior is not possible. With the floor-mounted, spring-loaded cone of food-safe polyurethane the animals can act out their natural needs for exploration and rooting. By the special arrangement of the rooting cones the natural behavior is simulated and the counter pressure of the springs stimulates the snout. Particular attention was given to long-term acceptance for the pigs and most important for the farmer practicability. In test groups with rooting cones, the animals used them significantly (five times) more often than the animal in the comparison groups with the standard ball on a chain. Also, the attractiveness of the rooting cones increased over the entire course of the fattening and did not decrease like commonly observed with other toys. The system was developed market –ready and is already on sale.
Section overview
Subjects
- Agricultural Technology Animal Production
- Farm animal behaviour
Funding programme
Excutive institution
Department of Agricultural Engineering in the Tropics and Subtropics
