Deep litter vs slats

The current debate about welfare and the environmental aspects of animal housing stimulated a German team of experts to study two different housing conditions for pigs; a concrete slatted floor and a deep litter system. read more >

Group housing pressure in the EU

The latest proposal by the European Commission on pig welfare, adopted by Ministers at the end of June, will have to be fully implemented by 2013; it introduces a ban on confinement of gestating sows to individual pens. Many producers in the EU are now faced with the challenge of changing their stall-housing and choosing one of the 'group' sow systems. read more >

Group size and performance

Group size is very important with regard to housing costs, in that the larger the group the lower the cost per pig place but does a larger group size reduce post-weaning performance? read more >

Tackling temperature extremes in Australia

Providing an optimal thermal environment for pigs is important for their welfare and production performance. A major Australian study funded by the Pig Research and Development Corporation (PRDC) has indicated that piggery building air temperatures on many farms are either too hot in summer or too cold in winter¹. Daily fluctuations in temperature also tend to be well above recommended levels. As part of the PRDC funded research project, experiments and case studies were conducted in Queensland (sub tropic) and South Australia (Mediterranean environment) to assess different management strategies aimed at improving the thermal environment in piggery buildings. read more >

Hybrid initiative applied to ventilation system

A climate control concept combining the advantages of natural and mechanical ventilation had been tested at the Sterksel experimental station in the Netherlands. Considerable energy savings have been achieved. read more >