We use cookies on our website. Some are necessary for the operation of the website. You can also allow cookies for statistical purposes. You can adjust the data protection settings or agree to all cookies directly.
Data Protection Declaration
Imprint
Collaborative project: Influence of different farrowing and rearing systems on animal welfare, animal health and economy in pig farming - an interdisciplinary approach. Subproject 1 (InnoPig)
Project
Project code: 28RZ372059
Contract period: 13.07.2015
- 02.08.2018
Budget: 265,980 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Animal welfare is becoming increasingly important for government and society. Important requirements are the integrity of the livestock and the opportunity of free movement through the different life periods of the animal. During lactation most of the sows are still fixed in farrowing crates. The confined housing system prevents sows from showing different behaviors during this time, like nesting behavior before farrowing. Furthermore it prevents intense early contact with the piglets, which may have long-term effects on their social behavior. In this joint project different alternative husbandry systems (sows kept in groups or single in indoor loose pens) will be compared with the conventional farrowing crate, where the sows are fixed. The used loose housing systems will differ in space allowance and design. Consequently the effects of various farrowing systems on piglets after rearing will be analyzed, distinguishing between the single-phase 'rearing' (piglets remain in the farrowing area), the single-phase 'rearing and fattening' in one barn and the conventional system (piglets are moved after weaning into a new barn and moved again for fattening). The evaluation of the systems is based on the criteria animal health, animal behavior, performance and economy. The investigations are carried out on two different farms. In the farms the lactating sows are kept either in conventional farrowing cages or in loose pens (sows are single or in groups). The group housing system is newly furnished in accordance with the concept of Big Dutchman. After weaning the piglets remain in their respective groups and will be either fattened in two phases (conventional: separated piglet rearing and fattening units) or raised in a single 'weaning-to-finish' pen. In addition, in some of the new farrowing systems the piglets will be kept until the end of rearing. On each farm eight repetitions are planned alongside a test phase.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal Husbandry
- Agricultural Technology Animal Production
Funding programme
Excutive institution
Funding institution
Project management agencies
Associated projects: InnoPig
- Collaborative project: Influence of different farrowing and rearing systems on animal welfare, animal health and economy in pig farming - an interdisciplinary approach. Subproject 8
- Collaborative project: Influence of different farrowing and rearing systems on animal welfare, animal health and economy in pig farming - an interdisciplinary approach. Subproject 7
- Collaborative project: Influence of different farrowing and rearing systems on animal welfare, animal health and economy in pig farming - an interdisciplinary approach. Subproject 6
- Collaborative project: Influence of different farrowing and rearing systems on animal welfare, animal health and economy in pig farming - an interdisciplinary approach. Subproject 5
- Collaborative project: Influence of different farrowing and rearing systems on animal welfare, animal health and economy in pig farming - an interdisciplinary approach. Subproject 4
- Collaborative project: Influence of different farrowing and rearing systems on animal welfare, animal health and economy in pig farming - an interdisciplinary approach. Subproject 3
- Collaborative project: Influence of different farrowing and rearing systems on animal welfare, animal health and economy in pig farming - an interdisciplinary approach. Subproject 2
