Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T14:08:42.176Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A case-study of fattening pigs in Belgian contract farming. Mortality, efficiency of food utilization and carcass value of growing pigs, in relation to environmental engineering and control

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

R. Geers ,
D. Berckmans ,
V. Goedseels ,
J. Wijnhoven  and
F. Maes
R. Geers
Affiliation:
Catholic University of Leuven, Laboratory for Agricultural Building Research, and Centre for Statistics and Biometry, Kard. Mercierlaan 92, B-3030 Heverlee, Belgium
D. Berckmans
Affiliation:
Catholic University of Leuven, Laboratory for Agricultural Building Research, and Centre for Statistics and Biometry, Kard. Mercierlaan 92, B-3030 Heverlee, Belgium
V. Goedseels
Affiliation:
Catholic University of Leuven, Laboratory for Agricultural Building Research, and Centre for Statistics and Biometry, Kard. Mercierlaan 92, B-3030 Heverlee, Belgium
J. Wijnhoven
Affiliation:
Catholic University of Leuven, Laboratory for Agricultural Building Research, and Centre for Statistics and Biometry, Kard. Mercierlaan 92, B-3030 Heverlee, Belgium
F. Maes
Affiliation:
Belgian Farmers' Association (Belgische Boerenbond-A.V.V.), Minderbroederstraat 8, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
Get access

Abstract

Mortality, efficiency of food utilization and carcass value of growing pigs were investigated in relation to engineering and control of the house environment. Data originated from contract farms and were made available by the Belgian Farmers' Association. The following parameters were investigated by means of analysis of variance and covariance: food conversion ratio, mortality, emergency slaughter rate and carcass values. Data were classified according to characteristics of the heating, air inlet and air outlet systems of the pig houses.

Within the limitations of our project, the expected favourable effect of heating on mortality and efficiency of food utilization of growing pigs depended on the construction and the functioning of the air inlet and outlet systems. Pigs fattened in houses with mechanical ventilation had a higher proportion of carcasses in the higher carcass grades. Seasonal effects were observed with respect to mortality rate, emergency slaughter rate and efficiency of food utilization. Differences between food conversion ratio with respect to heating and no-heating were comparable with those between summer and winter conditions. Hence the seasonal influence was not completely buffered by the housing conditions.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 38 , Issue 1 , February 1984 , pp. 105 - 111
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1984

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Boon, C. R. 1978. Airflow patterns and temperature distribution in an experimental piggery. J. agric. Engng Res. 23: 129–139.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brandsma, C. 1976. Influence of the outside climate on the ventilation of piggeries. IMAG Publ. 74.Google Scholar
Bruce, J. M. 1981. Ventilation and temperature control criteria for pigs. In Environmental Aspects of Housing for Animal Production (ed. Clark, J. A.), pp. 197–216. Buttenvorth, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carpenter, G. A. 1981. Ventilation systems. In Environmental Aspects of Housing for Animal Production (ed. Clark, J. A.), pp. 331–350. Buttenvorth, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clark, J. A. and Cena, K. 1981. Monitoring the house environment. In Environmental Aspects of Housing for Animal Production (ed. Clark, J. A.), pp. 309–330. Butterworth, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Close, W. H. 1981. The climatic requirements of the pig. In Environmental Aspects of Housing for Animal Production (ed. Clark, J. A.), pp. 149–166. Butterworth, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Close, W. H., Heavens, R. P. and Brown, D. 1981. The effects of ambient temperature and air movement on heat loss from the pig. Anim. Prod. 32: 75–84.Google Scholar
Dixon, W. J. and Brown, M. B. 1979. BMDP-79. Biomedical Computer Programs P-series. University of California Press, Los Angeles.Google Scholar
Goldsmith, R. 1974. Acclimatisation to cold in man — fact or fiction? In Heat Loss from Animals and Man (ed. Monteith, J. L. and Mount, L. E.), pp. 311–319. Butterworth, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jensen, A. H., Kuhlman, D. E., Becker, D. E. and Harmon, B. G. 1969. Response of growing-finishing swine to different housing environments during winter seasons. J. Anim. Sci. 29: 451–456.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Maes, F. 1982. Tijdreeksenanalyse varkenscontracten 1970-1981. A.V.V./Stafdiensten, 4040/Y4-1, F.M./J.P. 0003N.Google Scholar
Monteith, J. L. and Mount, L. E. 1974. Heat Loss from Animals and Man. Butterworth, London.Google Scholar
Mount, L. E. 1968. The Climatic Physiology of the Pig. Arnold, London.Google Scholar
Mount, L. E. 1979. Adaptation to the Thermal Environment. Arnold, London.Google Scholar
Randall, J. M. 1975. The prediction of airflow patterns in livestock buildings. J. agric. Engng Res. 20: 199–215.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Verstegen, M. W. A. 1971. Influence of environmental temperature on energy metabolism of growing pigs housed individually and in groups. Meded. LandbHoogesch. Wageningen, 71-72.Google Scholar
Wahlstrom, R. C. 1981. Effect of housing systems on growing pigs. Pig News & Inf. 2: 271–274.Google Scholar