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The effect of light intensity has been explored in relation to endocrine functions and reproduction in pigs, but effects on health and behaviour are scarcely documented. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different light intensities on behaviour, health and growth of growing-finishing pigs. An experiment was conducted on a commercial farm equipped with light-emitting diode-based luminaires creating four light intensity treatments: low (45 lux), medium (198 lux), high (968 lux) and spatial gradient of intensity (from 71 lux to 330 lux). Per treatment, 112 pigs were studied in two batches of eight pens. Once every two weeks behaviours such as exploration, positive and negative social interactions, play and abnormal behaviours were observed. Health issues were assessed weekly and included biting lesions, skin lesions, leg and respiratory disorders. The average daily gain over the experiment was calculated and after slaughter carcasses were inspected. Generalised linear mixed models were used for the analysis of behaviours, binary health scores, carcass abnormalities, ordinal logistic regression for multilevel health scores, and linear mixed models for average daily gain. Interactions between intensity and week were found for some behaviours (i.e., exploration, negative social interactions and abnormal behaviour) and health issues (i.e., tear stains, conjunctivitis, body lesions, bursitis and tail lesions). However, none of the treatments consistently outperformed another one. Light treatments did not affect pig growth and carcass abnormalities. These variable results support studies suggesting that pigs are adaptable to light intensities, and inconsistencies over weeks might have been caused by environmental factors that could not be controlled in a commercial farm setting. To conclude, tested light intensities had no clear effects on pig behaviour, health and growth.

A large variation in feeding patterns between pigs and over time hampers the use of data from electronic feeding stations in the continuous monitoring of growing-finishing pig welfare. Individual feeding strategies (i.e. differences between pigs that are consistent within a pig across time) likely explain part of this variation, both at the daily level - based on feeding components intake, frequency and rate – and at the diurnal level - based on feeding components circadian rhythms and night feeding. It is, however, not known exactly which feeding strategies pigs display, nor which types of pigs display which strategies. This study aimed 1) to test which (combinations of) feeding components contribute to independent feeding strategies; and 2) to see whether pigs with different feeding strategies also differ in other physical and behavioural characteristics. To identify feeding strategies, we calculated the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) for each day-level feeding component, which reflects the proportion of variation explained by an individual pig effect (n=98 pigs). Subsequently, high ICC day-level components were correlated to diurnal-level components known to contain feeding strategies, to assess possible overlap. Pigs with different strategies were then characterised based on physical (n=52) and behavioural (home pen and play tests, n=22–27) variables at different ages, using (generalised) linear mixed models. Four dimensions of individual feeding strategies emerged: nibbling/meal eating, fast/slow eating, day/day-night eating and consistent/inconsistent eating from day to day, sustaining after correction for pig sex or body weight. All dimensions except day/day-night eating partially overlapped at the beginning of the growing-finishing phase, but became more distinct over time. Pigs with different feeding strategies also differed in their general activity, diurnal activity and possibly dominance rank. Feeding strategies did not relate to behaviours po

This file contains the protocol for performing health observations in growing-finishing pigs as was applied in our research. It was created based mainly on the Welfare Quality protocol and Fit For Pigs app and combined this with other literature and the authors' expertise. The protocol contains observations both at pen and pig level, and for each observed component a definition of the component and associated scoring classes is provided, when possible illustrated with pictures.

Efficient utilization of dietary nitrogen (N) in pork production is of increasing concern. Previous studies revealed that a genetic basis for N utilization efficiency (NUE) might exist, but to assess the potential of breeding for improved NUE, the between-animal variation of a large number of animals needs to be known. The standard method to determine N retention (NR) in balance trails is laborious and not feasible for the required numbers of animals. However, correlations between protein utilization and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration have been shown to exist and body protein turnover is subject to hormonal control. Hence, the objective of the present thesis was to quantify NR of growing pigs at two different growth stages by N balance and to determine the impact of body protein turnover on NUE. In addition, equations for the estimation of NR were established, using performance data and blood metabolite concentrations, which were applied to evaluate the variation in NUE of a F1 crossbred population. Over a period of 2.5 years, a total of 508 crossbred pigs (German Landrace x Pietrain) from 20 different boars was investigated from the 11th week of life until slaughter. The pigs were housed individually throughout the experimental period and a two-phase fattening was performed. All animals received the same diet for ad libitum intake which was formulated to contain 90% of the recommended lysine concentration so that marginal lysine supply was the limiting factor for protein retention and pigs were allowed to express their full genetic potential of NUE. In both fattening phases, daily feed intake was recorded for each animal in a five-day sampling period (SP), and blood samples were taken from the jugular vein at around 13:00 h on three consecutive days for determination of BUN, cortisol, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) concentration. Additionally, in both SP, N balance was performed in the same experimental barn on a randomly selected subsample of 56, Die effiziente Verwertung des Futter-Stickstoffs (N) wird in der Schweineerzeugung zunehmend bedeutender. Frühere Studien haben gezeigt, dass eine genetische Grundlage der N-Nutzungseffizienz (NNE) zu bestehen scheint, aber um das Potential von Züchtungsmaßnahmen zur Verbesserung der NNE beurteilen zu können, muss die individuelle Variation einer ausreichend großen Tierzahl erfasst werden. Die Standardmethode zur Bestimmung des N-Ansatz (NA) ist aufwändig und kaum mit den benötigten Tierzahlen durchführbar. Allerdings wurden signifikante Korrelationen zwischen der Proteinverwertung und der Blutharnstoff-Konzentration (BHK) nachgewiesen und der Körperproteinumsatz unterliegt hormonellen Einflüssen. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es daher, den NA von Mastschweinen in zwei verschiedenen Wachstumsabschnitten durch N-Bilanzierung zu quantifizieren und den Einfluss des Körperproteinumsatzes auf die NNE zu bestimmen. Darüber hinaus wurden Gleichungen für die Schätzung des NA anhand von Leistungsdaten und Blutmetabolit-Konzentrationen aufgestellt, welche im Anschluss zur Beschreibung der Variation der NNE einer F1-Kreuzungspopulation verwendet wurden. Über einen Zeitraum von 2,5 Jahren wurden insgesamt 508 Kreuzungstiere (Deutsche Landrasse x Pietrain), die von 20 verschiedenen Ebern abstammten, von der 11. Lebenswoche bis zur Schlachtung untersucht. Die Schweine waren während des gesamten Versuchszeitraums in Einzelhaltung untergebracht und es wurde eine zweiphasige Mast durchgeführt. Allen Tieren wurde das gleiche Futter zur ad libitum Aufnahme vorgelegt, welches lediglich 90% der empfohlenen Lysinkonzentration enthielt, so dass die marginale Lysinversorgung der begrenzende Faktor für den Proteinansatz war und die Schweine ihr volles genetisches Potenzial der effizienten N-Nutzung entfalten konnten. In beiden Mastphasen wurde in einem jeweils fünftägigem Probenahmezeitraum (PZ) die tägliche Futteraufnahme der Tiere erfasst, und an drei aufeinanderfolgenden Tagen gegen 1

Efficient utilization of dietary nitrogen (N) in pork production is of increasing concern. Previous studies revealed that a genetic basis for N utilization efficiency (NUE) might exist, but to assess the potential of breeding for improved NUE, the between-animal variation of a large number of animals needs to be known. The standard method to determine N retention (NR) in balance trails is laborious and not feasible for the required numbers of animals. However, correlations between protein utilization and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration have been shown to exist and body protein turnover is subject to hormonal control. Hence, the objective of the present thesis was to quantify NR of growing pigs at two different growth stages by N balance and to determine the impact of body protein turnover on NUE. In addition, equations for the estimation of NR were established, using performance data and blood metabolite concentrations, which were applied to evaluate the variation in NUE of a F1 crossbred population. Over a period of 2.5 years, a total of 508 crossbred pigs (German Landrace x Pietrain) from 20 different boars was investigated from the 11th week of life until slaughter. The pigs were housed individually throughout the experimental period and a two-phase fattening was performed. All animals received the same diet for ad libitum intake which was formulated to contain 90% of the recommended lysine concentration so that marginal lysine supply was the limiting factor for protein retention and pigs were allowed to express their full genetic potential of NUE. In both fattening phases, daily feed intake was recorded for each animal in a five-day sampling period (SP), and blood samples were taken from the jugular vein at around 13:00 h on three consecutive days for determination of BUN, cortisol, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) concentration. Additionally, in both SP, N balance was performed in the same experimental barn on a randomly selected subsample of 56, Die effiziente Verwertung des Futter-Stickstoffs (N) wird in der Schweineerzeugung zunehmend bedeutender. Frühere Studien haben gezeigt, dass eine genetische Grundlage der N-Nutzungseffizienz (NNE) zu bestehen scheint, aber um das Potential von Züchtungsmaßnahmen zur Verbesserung der NNE beurteilen zu können, muss die individuelle Variation einer ausreichend großen Tierzahl erfasst werden. Die Standardmethode zur Bestimmung des N-Ansatz (NA) ist aufwändig und kaum mit den benötigten Tierzahlen durchführbar. Allerdings wurden signifikante Korrelationen zwischen der Proteinverwertung und der Blutharnstoff-Konzentration (BHK) nachgewiesen und der Körperproteinumsatz unterliegt hormonellen Einflüssen. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es daher, den NA von Mastschweinen in zwei verschiedenen Wachstumsabschnitten durch N-Bilanzierung zu quantifizieren und den Einfluss des Körperproteinumsatzes auf die NNE zu bestimmen. Darüber hinaus wurden Gleichungen für die Schätzung des NA anhand von Leistungsdaten und Blutmetabolit-Konzentrationen aufgestellt, welche im Anschluss zur Beschreibung der Variation der NNE einer F1-Kreuzungspopulation verwendet wurden. Über einen Zeitraum von 2,5 Jahren wurden insgesamt 508 Kreuzungstiere (Deutsche Landrasse x Pietrain), die von 20 verschiedenen Ebern abstammten, von der 11. Lebenswoche bis zur Schlachtung untersucht. Die Schweine waren während des gesamten Versuchszeitraums in Einzelhaltung untergebracht und es wurde eine zweiphasige Mast durchgeführt. Allen Tieren wurde das gleiche Futter zur ad libitum Aufnahme vorgelegt, welches lediglich 90% der empfohlenen Lysinkonzentration enthielt, so dass die marginale Lysinversorgung der begrenzende Faktor für den Proteinansatz war und die Schweine ihr volles genetisches Potenzial der effizienten N-Nutzung entfalten konnten. In beiden Mastphasen wurde in einem jeweils fünftägigem Probenahmezeitraum (PZ) die tägliche Futteraufnahme der Tiere erfasst, und an drei aufeinanderfolgenden Tagen gegen 1

Several precision livestock farming (PLF) technologies, conceived for optimizing farming processes, are developed to detect the physical and behavioral changes of animals continuously and in real-time. The aim of this review was to explore the capacity of existing PLF technologies to contribute to the assessment of pig welfare. In a web search for commercially available PLF for pigs, 83 technologies were identified. A literature search was conducted, following systematic review guidelines (PRISMA), to identify studies on the validation of sensor technologies for assessing animal-based welfare indicators. Two validation levels were defined: internal (evaluation during system building within the same population that were used for system building) and external (evaluation on a different population than during system building). From 2,463 articles found, 111 were selected, which validated some PLF that could be applied to the assessment of animal-based welfare indicators of pigs (7% classified as external, and 93% as internal validation). From our list of commercially available PLF technologies, only 5% had been externally validated. The more often validated technologies were vision-based solutions (n = 45), followed by load-cells (n = 28; feeders and drinkers, force plates and scales), accelerometers (n = 14) and microphones (n = 14), thermal cameras (n = 10), photoelectric sensors (n = 5), radio-frequency identification (RFID) for tracking (n = 2), infrared thermometers (n = 1), and pyrometer (n = 1). Externally validated technologies were photoelectric sensors (n = 2), thermal cameras (n = 2), microphone (n = 1), load-cells (n = 1), RFID (n = 1), and pyrometer (n = 1). Measured traits included activity and posture-related behavior, feeding and drinking, other behavior, physical condition, and health. In conclusion, existing PLF technologies are potential tools for on-farm animal welfare assessment in pig production. However, validation studies are lacking for an impo

Several precision livestock farming (PLF) technologies, conceived for optimizing farming processes, are developed to detect the physical and behavioral changes of animals continuously and in real-time. The aim of this review was to explore the capacity of existing PLF technologies to contribute to the assessment of pig welfare. In a web search for commercially available PLF for pigs, 83 technologies were identified. A literature search was conducted, following systematic review guidelines (PRISMA), to identify studies on the validation of sensor technologies for assessing animal-based welfare indicators. Two validation levels were defined: internal (evaluation during system building within the same population that were used for system building) and external (evaluation on a different population than during system building). From 2,463 articles found, 111 were selected, which validated some PLF that could be applied to the assessment of animal-based welfare indicators of pigs (7% classified as external, and 93% as internal validation). From our list of commercially available PLF technologies, only 5% had been externally validated. The more often validated technologies were vision-based solutions (n = 45), followed by load-cells (n = 28; feeders and drinkers, force plates and scales), accelerometers (n = 14) and microphones (n = 14), thermal cameras (n = 10), photoelectric sensors (n = 5), radio-frequency identification (RFID) for tracking (n = 2), infrared thermometers (n = 1), and pyrometer (n = 1). Externally validated technologies were photoelectric sensors (n = 2), thermal cameras (n = 2), microphone (n = 1), load-cells (n = 1), RFID (n = 1), and pyrometer (n = 1). Measured traits included activity and posture-related behavior, feeding and drinking, other behavior, physical condition, and health. In conclusion, existing PLF technologies are potential tools for on-farm animal welfare assessment in pig production. However, validation studies are lacking for an impo

Background: Respiratory diseases are major health concerns in the pig production sector worldwide, contributing adversely to morbidity and mortality. Over the past years there was a rise in reported incidents of respiratory disease in pigs in Norway, despite population wide freedom from Aujeszkýs disease, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, porcine respiratory corona virus and enzootic pneumonia. The main objective of this study was to investigate acute outbreaks of respiratory disease in conventional Norwegian fattening pig herds. The study included 14 herds. In seven herds with reported outbreaks of acute respiratory disease, data on clinical signs was recorded and samples for laboratory examination were collected. Diagnostic protocols were compared by parallel analysis of clinically healthy pigs from seven non-outbreak herds. Results: The most commonly reported clinical signs were sudden deaths and dyspnea. An average compartment morbidity of 60%, mortality of 4% and case fatality of 9% was recorded in the outbreak herds. Post-mortem examinations revealed acute lesions resembling porcine pleuropneumonia in all 28 pigs investigated from the outbreak herds and in 2 of the 24 (8%) pigs from the non-outbreak herds. Chronic lesions were recorded in another 2 pigs (8%) from the non-outbreak herds. Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serovar 8 was isolated from lungs and/or pleura from all tested pigs (n = 28) in the outbreak herds, and from 2 out of 24 pigs (8%) in the non-outbreak herds, one pig with an acute and another pig with a chronic infection. No other significant bacterial findings were made. Seroconversion to A. pleuropneumoniae antibodies was detectable in all outbreak herds analyzed and in six out of seven non-outbreak herds, but the risk ratio for seroconversion of individual pigs was higher (risk ratio 2.3 [1.50- 3.43 95% CI; P < 0.001]) in the outbreak herds. All herds tested positive for porcine circovirus type 2 and negative for influenza

Pen fouling is an undesired behaviour of fattening pigs, where they excrete in their designated resting area and rest in their designated excretion area. This causes problems with health due to poor hygiene, and requires laborious efforts for the farmer to clean the pen and correct the behaviour. A review of the existing literature suggests that changes in lying behaviour may precede an event of fouling. Furthermore, observing the lying patterns of fattening pigs in the morning before entering the fattening unit, as a means of assessing the risk of imminent pen fouling, is known to be a common strategy among Danish farmers. In this study, we show that machine learning methods, specifically random forests and artificial neural networks, can be made to predict pen fouling in the days leading up to the event, based on the position of the pigs within the pen at specific times of the day. We could not show any added information value from distinguishing between standing/lying behaviour within a given area of the pen, as opposed to simply knowing the pigs’ position. We found that the most information value, relevant for training a method for predicting fouling events, are located in the last 2–3 days before the event occurs and when the pigs are observed during the morning hours before any disturbance. Lastly, we demonstrate a Bayesian ensemble strategy for combining multiple different prediction models, which yield higher performances than the best performing models do on their own.

Pen fouling is an undesired behaviour of fattening pigs, where they excrete in their designated resting area and rest in their designated excretion area. This causes problems with health due to poor hygiene, and requires laborious efforts for the farmer to clean the pen and correct the behaviour. A review of the existing literature suggests that changes in lying behaviour may precede an event of fouling. Furthermore, observing the lying patterns of fattening pigs in the morning before entering the fattening unit, as a means of assessing the risk of imminent pen fouling, is known to be a common strategy among Danish farmers. In this study, we show that machine learning methods, specifically random forests and artificial neural networks, can be made to predict pen fouling in the days leading up to the event, based on the position of the pigs within the pen at specific times of the day. We could not show any added information value from distinguishing between standing/lying behaviour within a given area of the pen, as opposed to simply knowing the pigs’ position. We found that the most information value, relevant for training a method for predicting fouling events, are located in the last 2–3 days before the event occurs and when the pigs are observed during the morning hours before any disturbance. Lastly, we demonstrate a Bayesian ensemble strategy for combining multiple different prediction models, which yield higher performances than the best performing models do on their own.

Background: Respiratory diseases are major health concerns in the pig production sector worldwide, contributing adversely to morbidity and mortality. Over the past years there was a rise in reported incidents of respiratory disease in pigs in Norway, despite population wide freedom from Aujeszkýs disease, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, porcine respiratory corona virus and enzootic pneumonia. The main objective of this study was to investigate acute outbreaks of respiratory disease in conventional Norwegian fattening pig herds. The study included 14 herds. In seven herds with reported outbreaks of acute respiratory disease, data on clinical signs was recorded and samples for laboratory examination were collected. Diagnostic protocols were compared by parallel analysis of clinically healthy pigs from seven non-outbreak herds. Results: The most commonly reported clinical signs were sudden deaths and dyspnea. An average compartment morbidity of 60%, mortality of 4% and case fatality of 9% was recorded in the outbreak herds. Post-mortem examinations revealed acute lesions resembling porcine pleuropneumonia in all 28 pigs investigated from the outbreak herds and in 2 of the 24 (8%) pigs from the non-outbreak herds. Chronic lesions were recorded in another 2 pigs (8%) from the non-outbreak herds. Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serovar 8 was isolated from lungs and/or pleura from all tested pigs (n = 28) in the outbreak herds, and from 2 out of 24 pigs (8%) in the non-outbreak herds, one pig with an acute and another pig with a chronic infection. No other significant bacterial findings were made. Seroconversion to A. pleuropneumoniae antibodies was detectable in all outbreak herds analyzed and in six out of seven non-outbreak herds, but the risk ratio for seroconversion of individual pigs was higher (risk ratio 2.3 [1.50- 3.43 95% CI; P < 0.001]) in the outbreak herds. All herds tested positive for porcine circovirus type 2 and negative for influenza

Salmonella is a major foodborne pathogen causing important zoonosis worldwide. Pigs asymptomatically infected in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) can be intermittent shedders of the pathogen through faeces, being considered a major source of human infections. European baseline studies of fattening pig salmonellosis are based on Salmonella detection in MLN. This work studies the relationship between Salmonella infection in MLN and intestinal content (IC) shedding at slaughter and the relationship between the presence of the pathogen and the serologic status at farm level. Mean Salmonella prevalence in the selected pigs (vertically integrated production system of Navarra, Spain) was 7.2% in MLN, 8.4% in IC and 9.6% in serum samples. In this low–moderate prevalence context, poor concordance was found between MLN infection and shedding at slaughter and between bacteriology and serology. In fact, most of shedders were found uninfected in MLN (83%) or carrying different Salmonella strains in MLN and in IC (90%). The most prevalent Salmonellae were Typhimurium resistant to ACSSuT ± Nx or ASSuT antibiotic families, more frequently found invading the MLN (70%) than in IC (33.9%). Multivariable analysis revealed that risk factors associated with the presence of Salmonella in MLN or in IC were different, mainly related either to good hygiene practices or to water and feed control, respectively. Overall, in this prevalence context, detection of Salmonella in MLN is an unreliable predictor of faecal shedding at abattoir, indicating that subclinical infections in fattening pigs MLN could have limited relevance in the IC shedding.

Apple pomace is a by-product of the industrial production of apple juice, amounting to approximately 20-30% of freshly processed apples. Several million tonnes of apple pomace is produced in the world annually. Fresh apple pomace is characterised by high sugar and moisture content, which makes it susceptible to microbial contamination, uncontrolled fermentation and spoiling. Despite increasingly stricter legal regulations in managing biodegradable waste, large quantities of apple pomace are still being disposed of at landfills, posing a serious environmental issue. Since apple pomace has a certain nutritive value, it seems necessary to consider possibilities for using it as animal feed. The main goal of this research was to examine the possibility for using dried apple pomace as animal feed, i.e., as a raw material in the industrial production of animal feed. Accordingly, the nutritive value of dried apple pomace was examined, along with the process of pelleting, since pelleting is one of the most common technological procedures in the industrial production of animal feed. The testing of the chemical composition of dried apple pomace, used to determine its nutritive value, included the analyses of the content of raw proteins, raw fats, raw fibres, ash, neutral detergent fibres (NDF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), lignin, total sugars, individual sugars – fructose, glucose and sucrose, essential amino-acids, vitamins and mineral elements. When compared with the majority of commonly used animal feeds, the dried apple pomace was found to contain large amounts of raw fibres and sugars and small amounts of proteins and fats. In accordance with the determined nutritional composition of the dried apple pomace, concentrate mixtures for fattening pigs were prepared, after which a trial was performed to examine the effect of feeding the animals on the mixtures containing dried apple pomace in different concentrations on the production performance of the fattening pigs. The res

Der Anbau von Futtermitteln, die Haltung von Nutztieren, die Verarbeitung der tierischen Produkte und die dadurch ausgeprägte Flächennutzung durch die gesamte landwirtschaftliche Tierhaltung führen weltweit zu Treibhausgasemissionen. In direktem Zusammenhang mit der Haltung von Nutztieren und somit auch in der Mastschweinehaltung stehen die Ammoniak- und Methanemissionen. Das Hauptziel der vorliegenden Arbeit waren Untersuchungen zum Emissionsgeschehen und zu ausgewählten Ansätzen zur Emissionsminderung von Ammoniak und Methan, insbesondere beim Flüssigmistmanagement in der Mastschweinehaltung. In diesem Kontext standen die drei Herangehensweisen Messen – Analysieren – Modellieren im Fokus und wurden entsprechend als Teilziele festgelegt: • Durchführung von Emissionsminderungsstrategien beim Flüssigmistmanagement in einem konventionellen Schweinemaststall und Vergleich der Emissionen mit einem Referenzsystem ohne Emissionsminderungsmaßnahmen. Die ausgewählten Emissionsminderungsstrategien sollten praxistauglich und nachträglich in vorhandenen Stallbauten anwendbar sein. • Analyse der Haupteinflussfaktoren auf die Emissionen im Mastverlauf in unterschiedlichen Jahreszeiten unter besonderen Berücksichtigung von Zeitreiheneffekten und Regressionen. • Prüfung der Möglichkeiten einer Stoffflussmodellierung, Anwendung auf die eigenen Messdaten bzw. zur Potentialabschätzung von Emissionsminderungsmaßnahmen sowie Evaluierung des gewählten Ansatzes zur Stoffflussmodellierung. Das Flüssigmistmanagement im Stall beeinflusst in der Mastschweinehaltung die Emissionen von Ammoniak und Methan entscheidend, obgleich die konkreten Minderungspotentiale noch nicht hinreichend geklärt sind. In dieser Arbeit wurden im ersten Arbeitspaket in einem Case-Control-Ansatz über je einen Mastdurchgang die Flüssigmistmanagementmaßnahmen - wöchentliche Entleerung des Flüssigmistkanals, Abdeckung des unterflur gelagerten Flüssigmists sowie die Zugabe von Effektiven Mikroorganismen als Flüssigmista, The growing of feed crops, the production of farm livestock and the processing of livestock products, along with the associated use of farmland for this entire production chain, all engender greenhouse gases on a worldwide scale. In this respect, ammonia and methane emissions are directly associated with livestock farming including the feeding of pigs for slaughter. The main aim of the work presented in this thesis was investigation of emissions produced in this way, and into selected strategies applied for reducing ammonia and methane release, particularly in management of liquid manure inside a fattening unit. In this context, the paper focusses on the three approaches – measuring, analysing and modelling - which are accordingly established as the following part-targets: • Applying emission reduction strategies as part of liquid manure management in a conventional fattening unit and comparing the resultant emissions with those from a reference system where no emission reduction actions had been taken. The selected emission reduction strategies should be practicable and sustainably applicable in existing livestock housing systems. • Analysing the main factors of influence on emissions throughout the fattening period during different seasons of the year, with special consideration of time series effects and regressions. • Examining the possibilities of substance flow modelling, application to own measurement data rather or for assessing the potential of emission reduction methods as well as evaluation of the selected approach for substance flow modelling. In-barn liquid manure management with fattening pigs markedly influences ammonia and methane emissions whereby the concrete reduction potentials are not yet sufficiently clarified. Within this study, a first work package compares, through a case control approach, the liquid manure management strategies - weekly emptying of the liquid manure channel as well as covering of the underfloor stored liquid manure surface

The aim of this study was to examine effects of lung lesions on carcass quality and hematological parameters of slaughter pigs. The group of pigs with lung lesion score 2 had significantly lower live weight, hot carcass weight and cold carcass weight compared to the group of pigs with lung lesion score 0 (P<0.05). The same group of pigs had significantly higher back fat thickness at two points, and consequently significantly lower meatiness (P<0.05). No significant difference was found between groups for the carcass dressing (P>0.05). The total number of red blood cells, concentrations of hemoglobin and hematocrit showed significantly lower mean values in the group of pigs with lung lesions score 2 (P<0.05). Significantly higher mean value was also found in the group of pigs with lung lesion score 2 in the total white blood cell count, lymphocytes and neutrophils (P<0.05). However, no significant differences were found between groups of pigs in the mean value of middle-sized cells, leukocytes fractions (lymphocytes, middle-sized cells, and neutrophils) and platelet count (P>0.05). In conclusion, the results showed that lung lesions in fattening pigs had negative impact on carcass quality and hematological parameters.

The aim of this study was to examine effects of lung lesions on carcass quality and hematological parameters of slaughter pigs. The group of pigs with lung lesion score 2 had significantly lower live weight, hot carcass weight and cold carcass weight compared to the group of pigs with lung lesion score 0 (P<0.05). The same group of pigs had significantly higher back fat thickness at two points, and consequently significantly lower meatiness (P<0.05). No significant difference was found between groups for the carcass dressing (P>0.05). The total number of red blood cells, concentrations of hemoglobin and hematocrit showed significantly lower mean values in the group of pigs with lung lesions score 2 (P<0.05). Significantly higher mean value was also found in the group of pigs with lung lesion score 2 in the total white blood cell count, lymphocytes and neutrophils (P<0.05). However, no significant differences were found between groups of pigs in the mean value of middle-sized cells, leukocytes fractions (lymphocytes, middle-sized cells, and neutrophils) and platelet count (P>0.05). In conclusion, the results showed that lung lesions in fattening pigs had negative impact on carcass quality and hematological parameters.

[EN] The effects of including rapeseed meal (RSM) as an alternative source of vegetable protein in pig diets on animal performance, nutrient digestibility and methane production from faeces was investigated. A total of 96 pigs of 42.4 (±4.04) kg of body weight (BW) were allocated into two dietary treatments (48 animals/treatment). One group was fed a conventional diet (C) and the other with a diet containing RSM (R). The level of RSM in the R diet was 120 g/kg during the growing phase (40 70 kg BW; days 1 34 of study) and 200 g/kg during the finishing phase (70 114 kg BW; days 35 76 of study). Average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were measured throughout the study. During the finishing phase, faeces were collected and analysed for dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), crude fat, fibre fractions, pH, volatile fatty acids and biochemical methane potential (B0). Additionally, the coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of nutrients was measured using the acid-insoluble ash method. At slaughter (114 ± 12.2 kg BW), the main carcass and meat quality characteristics were registered and the fatty acid (FA) profile of the subcutaneous fat and muscle was analysed. During the growing phase, R animals showed lower ADG compared with C animals (818 vs. 890 g/d; P<0.05). These differences disappeared during the finishing phase. Faeces from treatment R showed a lower B0 compared to those from treatment C (308 vs. 351 mL methane/g OM). Animals from R group showed a lower DM, OM and CP CTTAD than C animals (0.790, 0.826 and 0.729 vs. 0.832, 0.865 and 0.818, respectively; P<0.05) and tended to show lower fibre digestion rates. Consequently, animals from R group showed a higher amount of these components in faeces. However, fat digestion was not affected. No differences were found between treatments on most carcass characteristics. Overall, the inclusion of high levels of RSM in pig diets decreased final BW

[EN] The effects of including rapeseed meal (RSM) as an alternative source of vegetable protein in pig diets on animal performance, nutrient digestibility and methane production from faeces was investigated. A total of 96 pigs of 42.4 (±4.04) kg of body weight (BW) were allocated into two dietary treatments (48 animals/treatment). One group was fed a conventional diet (C) and the other with a diet containing RSM (R). The level of RSM in the R diet was 120 g/kg during the growing phase (40 70 kg BW; days 1 34 of study) and 200 g/kg during the finishing phase (70 114 kg BW; days 35 76 of study). Average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were measured throughout the study. During the finishing phase, faeces were collected and analysed for dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), crude fat, fibre fractions, pH, volatile fatty acids and biochemical methane potential (B0). Additionally, the coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of nutrients was measured using the acid-insoluble ash method. At slaughter (114 ± 12.2 kg BW), the main carcass and meat quality characteristics were registered and the fatty acid (FA) profile of the subcutaneous fat and muscle was analysed. During the growing phase, R animals showed lower ADG compared with C animals (818 vs. 890 g/d; P<0.05). These differences disappeared during the finishing phase. Faeces from treatment R showed a lower B0 compared to those from treatment C (308 vs. 351 mL methane/g OM). Animals from R group showed a lower DM, OM and CP CTTAD than C animals (0.790, 0.826 and 0.729 vs. 0.832, 0.865 and 0.818, respectively; P<0.05) and tended to show lower fibre digestion rates. Consequently, animals from R group showed a higher amount of these components in faeces. However, fat digestion was not affected. No differences were found between treatments on most carcass characteristics. Overall, the inclusion of high levels of RSM in pig diets decreased final BW

Hos grisar finner man flera stereotypiska beteenden, som rörbitning och svansbitning. Dessa beteenden är relativt vanliga hos grisar. En miljöberikning definieras som förbättring av ett djurs välfärd, både psykologisk och fysiologiskt, genom förändringar hos djurets omgivning. Denna studie har undersökt om miljöberikningar kan minska stereotypiska beteenden hos grisar. De två olika miljöberikningar som har använts är en jutesäck fylld med halm och en Jolly Ball™. De tre stereotypiska beteendena som studerades var rörbitning, svansbitning och bukmassage. Studien utfördes på 107st grisar uppdelade på 12 boxar, under totalt tre veckor. Alla tre stereotypiska beteenden minskade statistiskt signifikant . Detta visar att båda miljöberikningarna hade en positiv effekt på grisarna då de minskade deras stereotypiska beteenden. De interagerade mer med jutesäcken fylld med halm än vad det gjorde med Jolly Ball™. Grisarna föredrog den miljöberikningen som var omformbar, förstörbar, ätbar, tuggbar, vilket går i linje med liknande studier., Among fattening pigs you find several stereotypical behaviours, such as bar-biting and tail-biting. These behaviours are quite common among domestic pigs. Environmental enrichments are often used to reduce stereotypical behaviours in animals. An environmental enrichment is defined as an improvement of an animal’s welfare, both psychologically and physiologically, through changes in the environment of the animal. With this study, different environmental enrichments were studied to see if they can reduce stereotypical behaviour among fattening pigs. The two different environmental enrichments used were a jute sack filled with straw and a Jolly Ball™. The stereotypical behaviours that were looked at were bar-biting, tail-biting and belly-nosing. The study was carried out on 107 pigs divided into 12 pig boxes, during 3 weeks in total. All three stereotypical behaviours decreased significantly. This shows that the environmental enrichments had a positive effect on the pigs, since they reduced their stereotypical behaviour. The pigs interacted more with the jute sack than they did with the Jolly Ball™. The pigs preferred the environmental enrichment that was destructible, edible, deformable and chewable, which fits well into similar studies that have been executed.

Hos grisar finner man flera stereotypiska beteenden, som rörbitning och svansbitning. Dessa beteenden är relativt vanliga hos grisar. En miljöberikning definieras som förbättring av ett djurs välfärd, både psykologisk och fysiologiskt, genom förändringar hos djurets omgivning. Denna studie har undersökt om miljöberikningar kan minska stereotypiska beteenden hos grisar. De två olika miljöberikningar som har använts är en jutesäck fylld med halm och en Jolly Ball™. De tre stereotypiska beteendena som studerades var rörbitning, svansbitning och bukmassage. Studien utfördes på 107st grisar uppdelade på 12 boxar, under totalt tre veckor. Alla tre stereotypiska beteenden minskade statistiskt signifikant . Detta visar att båda miljöberikningarna hade en positiv effekt på grisarna då de minskade deras stereotypiska beteenden. De interagerade mer med jutesäcken fylld med halm än vad det gjorde med Jolly Ball™. Grisarna föredrog den miljöberikningen som var omformbar, förstörbar, ätbar, tuggbar, vilket går i linje med liknande studier., Among fattening pigs you find several stereotypical behaviours, such as bar-biting and tail-biting. These behaviours are quite common among domestic pigs. Environmental enrichments are often used to reduce stereotypical behaviours in animals. An environmental enrichment is defined as an improvement of an animal’s welfare, both psychologically and physiologically, through changes in the environment of the animal. With this study, different environmental enrichments were studied to see if they can reduce stereotypical behaviour among fattening pigs. The two different environmental enrichments used were a jute sack filled with straw and a Jolly Ball™. The stereotypical behaviours that were looked at were bar-biting, tail-biting and belly-nosing. The study was carried out on 107 pigs divided into 12 pig boxes, during 3 weeks in total. All three stereotypical behaviours decreased significantly. This shows that the environmental enrichments had a positive effect on the pigs, since they reduced their stereotypical behaviour. The pigs interacted more with the jute sack than they did with the Jolly Ball™. The pigs preferred the environmental enrichment that was destructible, edible, deformable and chewable, which fits well into similar studies that have been executed.

Konjugovana linolna kiselina (CLA – Conjugated Linoleic Acid, eng.) predstavlja smešu geometrijskih izomera cisΔ9, cisΔ12 - oktadekadienske (linolne - 18:2 n-6) kiseline, za koju su utvrĊeni mnogi pozitivni efekti kao što su antikancerogeno dejstvo, poboljšanje konverzije hrane i smanjenje koliĉine masnog tkiva i povećanje udela mišićnog tkiva u trupu ţivotinja. Ishrana svinja sa dodatkom CLA dobija sve veći znaĉaj poslednjih godina, jer utiĉe na poboljšanje karakteristika trupa i kvaliteta mesa svinja, a u isto vreme, to je naĉin za dobijanje mesa i proizvoda od mesa obogaćenih sa CLA. MeĊutim, njen uticaj na kvalitet mesa, a naroĉito na tehnološke i senzorne parametre kvaliteta, nije u potpunosti definisan. Razliĉiti literaturni podaci o efektima ishrane svinja sa dodatkom CLA na proizvodne parametre (rezultate tova i sastav trupa), uz nedovoljno ispitane efekte koje ona poseduje na tehnološki, senzorni i nutritivni kvalitet mesa, bili su glavni razlozi postavljanja ovog ogleda. Eksperiment je postavljen kako bi se ispitali efekti dodavanja CLA hrani u završnoj fazi tova svinja. U ogledu su korišćeni tovljenici muškog i ţenskog pola ĉiste rase švedski landras, a CLA je dodata u formi ulja u koliĉini od 0,3% u hranu tokom poslednjih 45 dana tova. Ulje CLA korišćeno u ovom ogledu, je kao aktivnu komponentu sadrţalo 60% CLA, koja se sastojala od smeše dva izomera u odnosu 1:1 (30% cis-9, trans-11 i 30% trans-10, cis-12). Ogled je trajao 175 dana, a ulje CLA je dodavano u ishranu tokom poslednjih 45 dana tova (od 130. do 175. dana), tako da je svako grlo iz ogledne grupe dobilo dnevno u proseku 15 g ulja CLA, tj. ukupno 675 g ulja CLA tokom celog ogleda. Proseĉna telesna masa tovljenika obe grupe na poĉetku ishrane sa CLA bila je oko 66 kg, a na kraju (posle 45 dana) oko 103,5 kg, nakon ĉega su ţivotinje zaklane. Istraţivanje je obuhvatilo ispitivanje rezultata tova, sastava trupa i parametara tehnološkog, senzornog i nutritivnog kvaliteta mišićnog i masnog tkiva. Rez, Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA - Conjugated Linoleic Acid) is a mixture of geometric isomers of cisΔ9, cisΔ12 – octadecadienoic (linoleic acid - 18:2 n-6) acid, for which many positive effects were identified, such as anticancer effect, improved feed conversion and reduction of the amount of fat and increase of the share of muscle tissue in the body of animals. Nutrition of pigs with the CLA supplement is gaining increasing importance in recent years because of the impact on improvement of the carcass characteristics and meat quality of pigs, but at the same time, it is a way to get meat and meat products enriched with CLA. However, its effect on meat quality, especially on the technological and sensory quality parameters, has not been t fully defined. Various published data on the effects of feeding pigs with the addition of CLA on production parameters (fattening and carcass composition), with insufficiently studied effects that it has on technological, sensory and nutritional quality of meat, were the main reasons for setting up this experiment. The experiment was designed to examine the effects of adding CLA to diets for pigs in the final stage of fattening. Male and female purebred Swedish Landrace fatteners were used in the experiment, and CLA was added in the form of oil in an amount of 0.3% of the food during the last 45 days of fattening. CLA oil used in this experiment, as the active ingredient contained 60% CLA, which consisted of a mixture of two isomers in a ratio of 1:1 (30% cis-9, trans-11 and 30% trans-10, cis-12). The trial lasted 175 days, and the CLA oil was added to the diet during the last 45 days of experiment (from 130. to 175. day), so that each animal in the experimental group received daily on average 15 g CLA oil, i.e. total of 675 g CLA oil during the entire experiment. The average body mass of fatteners of both groups at the start of the CLA diet was about 66 kg, and at the end (after 45 days), about 103, 5 kg, after which the animals wer

Konjugovana linolna kiselina (CLA – Conjugated Linoleic Acid, eng.) predstavlja smešu geometrijskih izomera cisΔ9, cisΔ12 - oktadekadienske (linolne - 18:2 n-6) kiseline, za koju su utvrĊeni mnogi pozitivni efekti kao što su antikancerogeno dejstvo, poboljšanje konverzije hrane i smanjenje koliĉine masnog tkiva i povećanje udela mišićnog tkiva u trupu ţivotinja. Ishrana svinja sa dodatkom CLA dobija sve veći znaĉaj poslednjih godina, jer utiĉe na poboljšanje karakteristika trupa i kvaliteta mesa svinja, a u isto vreme, to je naĉin za dobijanje mesa i proizvoda od mesa obogaćenih sa CLA. MeĊutim, njen uticaj na kvalitet mesa, a naroĉito na tehnološke i senzorne parametre kvaliteta, nije u potpunosti definisan. Razliĉiti literaturni podaci o efektima ishrane svinja sa dodatkom CLA na proizvodne parametre (rezultate tova i sastav trupa), uz nedovoljno ispitane efekte koje ona poseduje na tehnološki, senzorni i nutritivni kvalitet mesa, bili su glavni razlozi postavljanja ovog ogleda.Eksperiment je postavljen kako bi se ispitali efekti dodavanja CLA hrani u završnoj fazi tova svinja. U ogledu su korišćeni tovljenici muškog i ţenskog pola ĉiste rase švedski landras, a CLA je dodata u formi ulja u koliĉini od 0,3% u hranu tokom poslednjih 45 dana tova. Ulje CLA korišćeno u ovom ogledu, je kao aktivnu komponentu sadrţalo 60% CLA, koja se sastojala od smeše dva izomera u odnosu 1:1 (30% cis-9, trans-11 i 30% trans-10, cis-12). Ogled je trajao 175 dana, a ulje CLA je dodavano u ishranu tokom poslednjih 45 dana tova (od 130. do 175. dana), tako da je svako grlo iz ogledne grupe dobilo dnevno u proseku 15 g ulja CLA, tj. ukupno 675 g ulja CLA tokom celog ogleda. Proseĉna telesna masa tovljenika obe grupe na poĉetku ishrane sa CLA bila je oko 66 kg, a na kraju (posle 45 dana) oko 103,5 kg, nakon ĉega su ţivotinje zaklane. Istraţivanje je obuhvatilo ispitivanje rezultata tova, sastava trupa i parametara tehnološkog, senzornog i nutritivnog kvaliteta mišićnog i masnog tkiva.Rezul, Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA - Conjugated Linoleic Acid) is a mixture of geometric isomers of cisΔ9, cisΔ12 – octadecadienoic (linoleic acid - 18:2 n-6) acid, for which many positive effects were identified, such as anticancer effect, improved feed conversion and reduction of the amount of fat and increase of the share of muscle tissue in the body of animals. Nutrition of pigs with the CLA supplement is gaining increasing importance in recent years because of the impact on improvement of the carcass characteristics and meat quality of pigs, but at the same time, it is a way to get meat and meat products enriched with CLA. However, its effect on meat quality, especially on the technological and sensory quality parameters, has not been t fully defined. Various published data on the effects of feeding pigs with the addition of CLA on production parameters (fattening and carcass composition), with insufficiently studied effects that it has on technological, sensory and nutritional quality of meat, were the main reasons for setting up this experiment.The experiment was designed to examine the effects of adding CLA to diets for pigs in the final stage of fattening. Male and female purebred Swedish Landrace fatteners were used in the experiment, and CLA was added in the form of oil in an amount of 0.3% of the food during the last 45 days of fattening. CLA oil used in this experiment, as the active ingredient contained 60% CLA, which consisted of a mixture of two isomers in a ratio of 1:1 (30% cis-9, trans-11 and 30% trans-10, cis-12). The trial lasted 175 days, and the CLA oil was added to the diet during the last 45 days of experiment (from 130. to 175. day), so that each animal in the experimental group received daily on average 15 g CLA oil, i.e. total of 675 g CLA oil during the entire experiment. The average body mass of fatteners of both groups at the start of the CLA diet was about 66 kg, and at the end (after 45 days), about 103, 5 kg, after which the animals were

To successfully investigate slaughter characteristics of fattening pigs fed in different ways, this experiment was carried out on Experimental Farm of the Institute for Animal Husbandry, Belgrade-Zemun. Investigation of correlation between slaughter traits of pigs fed with different additives in their nutrition was done by factorial analysis. Slaughter characteristics in three groups of fattening pigs fed in different ways were observed. The first group (variant 1) consisted of fatteners fed diets without any special additives. The second group (variant 2) consisted of pigs fed diets containing enzyme Rovabio, and the third group (variant 3) probiotic Lacture Microbond. This study was aimed at coming to conclusion based on the results of factorial analysis of the observed traits to the greatest extent which determined slaughter traits of pigs fed diets containing different additives. The results obtained in general, that is, the structure of separated factors showed that different slaughter characteristics are realized with different nutrition.

Little is known about the characteristics of biters and victims before the appearance of a tail-biting outbreak in groups of pigs. This study aimed to characterise biters and victims (according to gender and performance) and to quantify their behavioural development during the 6 days preceding the tail-biting outbreak. The hypotheses tested were: (a) biters are more often female, are the lighter pigs in the group, are more restless and perform more aggressive behaviour; and (b) victims are more often male, heavier and less active. Using video recordings we carried out a detailed study of 14 pens with a tail-biting outbreak among the weaned piglets. All piglets were individually marked and we observed the behaviour of biters, victims and control piglets (piglet types). In every pen, each piglet type was observed every other day from 6 days before (D-6) to the day of the first visible tail damage (i.e. day of tail biting outbreak; D0). While the number of male biters (6 of the 14 biters) and male victims (11 of the 14 victims) was not significantly different (P = 0.13), this numerical contrast was considerable. The start weight of victims was significantly (P = 0.03) higher (8.6 kg) than those of biters (7.5 kg) and control piglets (8.0 kg). Biters tended (P = 0.08) to spend longer sitting/kneeling (3.1 min/h) than controls (1.7 min/h), but no differences were seen in the time spent lying or standing. Victims tended (P = 0.07) to change posture more often (restlessness) than controls and chased penmates more (P = 0.04) than biters. Victims also performed more (P = 0.04) aggressive behaviour than biters and controls. In contrast, biters tended (P = 0.08) to be chased by penmates more often and tended (P = 0.06) to receive more aggressive behaviour than controls. Furthermore, biters spent longer manipulating the enrichment device (P = 0.01) and the posterior/tail (P = 0.02) of their penmates than controls and tended (P = 0.06) to perform more tail bites than victims. Vi

Die Zielstellung dieser Untersuchungen bestand darin, das Präferenzverhalten von Schweinen, also die Bevorzugung unterschiedlicher Haltungssysteme bzw. Segmente von Haltungsverfahren, sensorgestützt zu ermitteln, um die Basis für eine Bewertung zu liefern. Den Tieren wurden Wahlmöglichkeiten zwischen jeweils zwei Liegebereichen mit unterschiedlichen Fußböden (vollperforiert, teilperforiert und planbefestigt) angeboten. Das Verhalten der 42 Schweine wurde kontinuierlich über die gesamte Versuchsdauer durch ein sensorgestütztes System erfasst. Die Identifikation der Schweine wurde durch einen Ohr-Responder gewährleistet. Jeder Kontakt mit einer Tiererkennung bei einem Wechsel zwischen den Aufenthaltsbereichen oder auch den Futterautomaten wurde über eine Datenleitung an einen PC übermittelt und gespeichert. Der gewählte Forschungsansatz ging davon aus, dass die Präferenz gegenüber verschiedenen Angeboten als eine Funktion der Zeit durch Besuchshäufigkeit und Aufenthaltsdauer dargestellt werden kann. Die Ergebnisse der eigenen Untersuchung zeigten hohe individuelle Unterschiede in der Ausprägung dieser Merkmale. Es stellt sich die Frage der Bedeutung dieser beiden Merkmale hinsichtlich der Beschreibung der wahren Präferenz. Deshalb musste eine Möglichkeit gefunden werden, Zeitabschnitte, die eine Ruhephase charakterisieren, von denen die dem Erkundungsverhalten entspringen von einander zu unterscheiden. Das Ziel dieser Unterteilung bestand darin, die Ruhephasen für die weiteren Auswertungen zu verwenden. Dadurch wurde offensichtlich, dass die Merkmale Ruhedauer und Besuchshäufigkeit zum Ruhen wesentlich geringere tierindividuelle Variationen aufweisen und somit eine bessere Basis für die Bewertung der Präferenz liefern. Unter Berücksichtigung der durchgeführten Analyse stellt die vorgestellte Auswertungsmethode ein sinnvolles Hilfsmittel dar, unterschiedlich gestaltete Ruhebereiche in Hinblick auf das Präferenzverhalten von Mastschweinen miteinander zu vergleichen., The aim of this project was to analyse and evaluate the preference of fattening pigs concerning different floors in the resting area using sensor based identification. The experiment was aimed at contributing to a more objective evaluation of housing systems in pig production. Preferences were identified by letting the animals chose between two lying areas with different flooring (totally slatted floor, partly slatted floor and non-slated floor). The behaviour of 42 pigs was recorded continuously throughout the whole fattening period. Each identifications of pigs by entering or leaving the resting areas or by using the feeders and drinkers was transmitted by the data line to a PC and stored. The individual identification of the pigs was ensured by ear-responders. The basic approach assumes that the preference can be calculated as a function of time via the frequency of visits and duration of stay in accessible resting areas. The results of this study showed high individual variations of these characteristics. This raises the question of the relevance of these two characteristics in the description of the true preference. It is assumed that the pigs do not only visit the resting areas to rest, but also to satisfy their exploration behaviour. It is expected that only the long duration of stays characterize the preferred flooring system. Therefore a method should be developed to classify this kind of visit. The aim of this classification was to use only the resting period (the long visits in the resting area) for further evaluations. The results of this study showed that the characteristics rest duration and frequency of rest periods provides a better basis for the evaluation of preference behaviour. In the context of these investigations, the presented evaluation method was a useful tool to compare differently designed resting areas.

Die Zielstellung dieser Untersuchungen bestand darin, das Präferenzverhalten von Schweinen, also die Bevorzugung unterschiedlicher Haltungssysteme bzw. Segmente von Haltungsverfahren, sensorgestützt zu ermitteln, um die Basis für eine Bewertung zu liefern. Den Tieren wurden Wahlmöglichkeiten zwischen jeweils zwei Liegebereichen mit unterschiedlichen Fußböden (vollperforiert, teilperforiert und planbefestigt) angeboten. Das Verhalten der 42 Schweine wurde kontinuierlich über die gesamte Versuchsdauer durch ein sensorgestütztes System erfasst. Die Identifikation der Schweine wurde durch einen Ohr-Responder gewährleistet. Jeder Kontakt mit einer Tiererkennung bei einem Wechsel zwischen den Aufenthaltsbereichen oder auch den Futterautomaten wurde über eine Datenleitung an einen PC übermittelt und gespeichert. Der gewählte Forschungsansatz ging davon aus, dass die Präferenz gegenüber verschiedenen Angeboten als eine Funktion der Zeit durch Besuchshäufigkeit und Aufenthaltsdauer dargestellt werden kann. Die Ergebnisse der eigenen Untersuchung zeigten hohe individuelle Unterschiede in der Ausprägung dieser Merkmale. Es stellt sich die Frage der Bedeutung dieser beiden Merkmale hinsichtlich der Beschreibung der wahren Präferenz. Deshalb musste eine Möglichkeit gefunden werden, Zeitabschnitte, die eine Ruhephase charakterisieren, von denen die dem Erkundungsverhalten entspringen von einander zu unterscheiden. Das Ziel dieser Unterteilung bestand darin, die Ruhephasen für die weiteren Auswertungen zu verwenden. Dadurch wurde offensichtlich, dass die Merkmale Ruhedauer und Besuchshäufigkeit zum Ruhen wesentlich geringere tierindividuelle Variationen aufweisen und somit eine bessere Basis für die Bewertung der Präferenz liefern. Unter Berücksichtigung der durchgeführten Analyse stellt die vorgestellte Auswertungsmethode ein sinnvolles Hilfsmittel dar, unterschiedlich gestaltete Ruhebereiche in Hinblick auf das Präferenzverhalten von Mastschweinen miteinander zu vergleichen., The aim of this project was to analyse and evaluate the preference of fattening pigs concerning different floors in the resting area using sensor based identification. The experiment was aimed at contributing to a more objective evaluation of housing systems in pig production. Preferences were identified by letting the animals chose between two lying areas with different flooring (totally slatted floor, partly slatted floor and non-slated floor). The behaviour of 42 pigs was recorded continuously throughout the whole fattening period. Each identifications of pigs by entering or leaving the resting areas or by using the feeders and drinkers was transmitted by the data line to a PC and stored. The individual identification of the pigs was ensured by ear-responders. The basic approach assumes that the preference can be calculated as a function of time via the frequency of visits and duration of stay in accessible resting areas. The results of this study showed high individual variations of these characteristics. This raises the question of the relevance of these two characteristics in the description of the true preference. It is assumed that the pigs do not only visit the resting areas to rest, but also to satisfy their exploration behaviour. It is expected that only the long duration of stays characterize the preferred flooring system. Therefore a method should be developed to classify this kind of visit. The aim of this classification was to use only the resting period (the long visits in the resting area) for further evaluations. The results of this study showed that the characteristics rest duration and frequency of rest periods provides a better basis for the evaluation of preference behaviour. In the context of these investigations, the presented evaluation method was a useful tool to compare differently designed resting areas.

Effects of the use of additive Betafine on the slaughter results of the fattening pigs were investigated. Obtained results showed that the introduction of Betafine in the concentration of 0.1% in the diets had the effect on the length of carcasses and dressing percentage of the pigs. The nutrition of pigs with diets based on the Betafine resulted in increased meat content by 1.3% in the carcasses. No positive effect of the use of investigated additive on the share of the main parts in pig carcasses was established. Positive effect of the introduction of Batafine showed the increase of the meat content in the the blade stick with neck and in the area of Longissimus dorsi (MLD). Generally we recommend the use of additive Betafine in the nutrition of fattening pigs, because it has showed positive effects on meatiness and the meat content in the area of Muscullus longissimus dorsi., Istraživani su efekti korišćenja aditiva Betafina na klanične rezultate kod svinja u tovu. Dobijeni rezultati su pokazali da je uvoĐenje Betafina u koncentraciji od 0,1% u obrocima imalo efekte na dužine polutki i randmane svinja. Ishrana svinja smešom zasnovanom na Betafinu je dovela do povećanja mesnatosti, za 1,3%, u polutkama. Nije bilo bitnih efekata korišćenja ispitivanog aditiva na udeo osnovnih delova u polutkama svinja. Pozitivan efekat uključivanja betafina je bio izražen povećanjem sadržaja mesa u podplećki sa vratom i u velikom leđnom mišiću (MLD-u).

Effects of the use of additive Betafine on the slaughter results of the fattening pigs were investigated. Obtained results showed that the introduction of Betafine in the concentration of 0.1% in the diets had the effect on the length of carcasses and dressing percentage of the pigs. The nutrition of pigs with diets based on the Betafine resulted in increased meat content by 1.3% in the carcasses. No positive effect of the use of investigated additive on the share of the main parts in pig carcasses was established. Positive effect of the introduction of Batafine showed the increase of the meat content in the the blade stick with neck and in the area of Longissimus dorsi (MLD). Generally we recommend the use of additive Betafine in the nutrition of fattening pigs, because it has showed positive effects on meatiness and the meat content in the area of Muscullus longissimus dorsi., Istraživani su efekti korišćenja aditiva Betafina na klanične rezultate kod svinja u tovu. Dobijeni rezultati su pokazali da je uvoĐenje Betafina u koncentraciji od 0,1% u obrocima imalo efekte na dužine polutki i randmane svinja. Ishrana svinja smešom zasnovanom na Betafinu je dovela do povećanja mesnatosti, za 1,3%, u polutkama. Nije bilo bitnih efekata korišćenja ispitivanog aditiva na udeo osnovnih delova u polutkama svinja. Pozitivan efekat uključivanja betafina je bio izražen povećanjem sadržaja mesa u podplećki sa vratom i u velikom leđnom mišiću (MLD-u).

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary crude protein (CP) level on odour emission, odour intensity, hedonic tone, and ammonia emission from pig manure and on manure composition (pH, total nitrogen, ammonium, volatile fatty acids, indolic, phenolic and sulphur-containing compounds). An experiment was conducted with growing pigs (n = 18) in a randomised complete-block design with three treatments in six blocks. Treatment groups were 12%, 15% and 18% CP diets. Barley was exchanged for soya-bean meal. Crystalline amino acids (AA) were included in the 12% CP diet up to the level of pigs' requirement, the same amount of AA was added to the 15% and 18% CP diets. Pigs with an initial body weight (BW) of 36.5 +/- 3.4 kg (mean +/- s.d.) were individually penned in partly slatted floor pens and offered a daily feed allowance of 2.8 x maintenance requirement for net energy (NE: 293 kJ/kg BW0.75). Feed was mixed with water, 1/2.5 (w/w). Faeces and urine of each pig were accumulated together in a separate manure pit under the slatted floor After an adaptation period of 2 weeks, the manure pits were cleaned and manure was collected. In the 5th week of the collection period, air samples for odour and ammonia analyses, and manure samples were collected directly from each manure pit. Air samples were analysed for odour concentration and for hedonic value and intensity above odour detection threshold. Manure samples were analysed for volatile fatty acids, and indolic, phenolic and sulphurous compounds, ammonium and total nitrogen concentrations. Reducing dietary CP from 18% to 12% lowered odour emission (P <0.05) and ammonia emission (P = 0.01) from pig manure by 80% and 53%, respectively. Reduced dietary CP decreased total nitrogen, methyl sulphide, carbon disulphide, ethanethiol, phenol, 4-ethyl phenol, indole and 3-methyl indole concentrations in the manure (P <0.05). Volatile fatty acids and cresols concentrations in the manure of pigs fed different di

Considering that our previous research has indicated some positive effects of probiotics used in nutrition of sows and suckling piglets, as well as piglets in rearing, investigation designed in this case had the objective to investigate the effect of introduction of probiotic Paciflora-C-10, based on Bacillus spp C.I.P. 5832 in nutrition of fattening pigs. Investigations were carried out on Experimental pig farm of the Institute for Animal Husbandry, Belgrade-Zemun. Crietria for evaluation of obtained results were production performance, degree of use of nutritious substances slaughter parameters and economical analysis determined as price of gain of 1 kg of body mass. It was established that introduction of probiotics has induced the increase of body mass gain by 3,88%, feed conversion by 2,81% degree of utilization of dry and organic matter as well as crude proteina in mixtures. Also, in regard to slaughter traits, it was established that use of probiotic had positive effect on dressing percentage. No effect on food consumption, meatiness in warm carcasses or price of body mass gain was determined on experimental animals., Rezultati ispitivanja nutritivne vrednosti probiotika zasnovanog na Bacillus spp. u ishrani svinja u tovu pokazali su da je ispitivani probiotik imao pozitivne efekte na prirast, konverziju hrane, iskorišćavanje suve, organske materije i proteina kao i na randman. Nije utvrđen uticaj probiotika na konzumaciju hrane, mesnatost u polutkama svinja i cenu prirasta kod životinja u eksperimentu.

Investigations of aromatic substances as growth stimulators, based on plant extracts in fattening pig diet, showed that the examined aroma yielded positive effects on growth, feed consumption and conversion, utilization of dry, organic matter and proteins, on the dressing percentage and economic parameters of price gain of the experimental animals. There were no effects of the introduction of aromatic substances in feed rations on the meatiness of pig carcasses on the slaughtering line., Ispitivanjima arome kao stimulatora porasta zasnovanog na biljnim ekstraktima u ishrani svinja u tovu ukazalo se da je ispitivana aroma iskazala pozitivne efekte na prirast, potrošnju i konverziju hrane, iskorišć avanje suve organske materije i proteina, na randman, kao i na cenu prirasta kod životinja u eksperimentu. Nije bilo efekata uvođenja arome u obroke na mesnatost polutki svinja na liniji klanja.

Considering that our previous research has indicated some positive effects of probiotics used in nutrition of sows and suckling piglets, as well as piglets in rearing, investigation designed in this case had the objective to investigate the effect of introduction of probiotic Paciflora-C-10, based on Bacillus spp C.I.P. 5832 in nutrition of fattening pigs. Investigations were carried out on Experimental pig farm of the Institute for Animal Husbandry, Belgrade-Zemun. Crietria for evaluation of obtained results were production performance, degree of use of nutritious substances slaughter parameters and economical analysis determined as price of gain of 1 kg of body mass. It was established that introduction of probiotics has induced the increase of body mass gain by 3,88%, feed conversion by 2,81% degree of utilization of dry and organic matter as well as crude proteina in mixtures. Also, in regard to slaughter traits, it was established that use of probiotic had positive effect on dressing percentage. No effect on food consumption, meatiness in warm carcasses or price of body mass gain was determined on experimental animals., Rezultati ispitivanja nutritivne vrednosti probiotika zasnovanog na Bacillus spp. u ishrani svinja u tovu pokazali su da je ispitivani probiotik imao pozitivne efekte na prirast, konverziju hrane, iskorišćavanje suve, organske materije i proteina kao i na randman. Nije utvrđen uticaj probiotika na konzumaciju hrane, mesnatost u polutkama svinja i cenu prirasta kod životinja u eksperimentu.

Investigations of aromatic substances as growth stimulators, based on plant extracts in fattening pig diet, showed that the examined aroma yielded positive effects on growth, feed consumption and conversion, utilization of dry, organic matter and proteins, on the dressing percentage and economic parameters of price gain of the experimental animals. There were no effects of the introduction of aromatic substances in feed rations on the meatiness of pig carcasses on the slaughtering line., Ispitivanjima arome kao stimulatora porasta zasnovanog na biljnim ekstraktima u ishrani svinja u tovu ukazalo se da je ispitivana aroma iskazala pozitivne efekte na prirast, potrošnju i konverziju hrane, iskorišć avanje suve organske materije i proteina, na randman, kao i na cenu prirasta kod životinja u eksperimentu. Nije bilo efekata uvođenja arome u obroke na mesnatost polutki svinja na liniji klanja.

Considering that our previous research has indicated some positive effects of probiotics used in nutrition of sows and suckling piglets, as well as piglets in rearing, investigation designed in this case had the objective to investigate the effect of introduction of probiotic Paciflora-C-10, based on Bacillus spp C.I.P. 5832 in nutrition of fattening pigs. Investigations were carried out on Experimental pig farm of the Institute for Animal Husbandry, Belgrade-Zemun. Crietria for evaluation of obtained results were production performance, degree of use of nutritious substances slaughter parameters and economical analysis determined as price of gain of 1 kg of body mass. It was established that introduction of probiotics has induced the increase of body mass gain by 3,88%, feed conversion by 2,81% degree of utilization of dry and organic matter as well as crude proteina in mixtures. Also, in regard to slaughter traits, it was established that use of probiotic had positive effect on dressing percentage. No effect on food consumption, meatiness in warm carcasses or price of body mass gain was determined on experimental animals., Rezultati ispitivanja nutritivne vrednosti probiotika zasnovanog na Bacillus spp. u ishrani svinja u tovu pokazali su da je ispitivani probiotik imao pozitivne efekte na prirast, konverziju hrane, iskorišćavanje suve, organske materije i proteina kao i na randman. Nije utvrđen uticaj probiotika na konzumaciju hrane, mesnatost u polutkama svinja i cenu prirasta kod životinja u eksperimentu.

A dynamic mechanistic model was developed for growing and fattening pigs. The aim of the model was to predict growth rate and the chemical and anatomical body compositions from the digestible nutrient intake of gilts (20-105 kg live weight). The model represents the partitioning of digestible nutrients from intake through intermediary metabolism to body protein and body fat. State variables of the model were lysine, acetyl-CoA equivalents, glucose, volatile fatty acids and fatty acids as metabolite pools, and protein in muscle, hide-backfat, bone and viscera and body fat as body constituent pools. It was assumed that fluxes of metabolites follow saturation kinetics depending on metabolite concentrations. In the model, protein deposition rate depended on the availability of lysine and of acetyl-CoA. The anatomical body composition in terms of muscle, organs, hide-backfat and bone was predicted from the chemical body composition and accretion using allometric relationships. Partitioning of protein, fat, water and ash in muscle, organs, hide-backfat and bone fractions were driven by the rates of muscle protein and body fat deposition. Model parameters were adjusted to obtain a good fit of the experimental data from literature. Differential equations were solved numerically for a given set of initial conditions and parameter values. In the present paper, the model is presented, including its parameterisation. The evaluation of the model is described in a companion paper.

Zielsetzung dieser Arbeit war es, eine Bewertung der Tiergerechtheit in praxisüblichen Mastschweinehaltungen vorzunehmen. Durch Ableitung von Maßnahmen zur Steigerung der Tiergerechtheit soll den Produzenten eine auf Verbrauchereinstellung abgestimmte und praktikable Produktion innerhalb ihrer Haltungsformen erleichtert werden. Dazu wurden an 100 Mastschweine haltenden Betrieben in Nordrhein-Westfalen Erhebungen zur Beurteilung der Tiergerechtheit vorgenommen. Die Untersuchung teilte sich in zwei Bereiche, die Erhebungen von Betriebsdaten zum Management sowie zum Aufstallungssystem und die Verhaltensuntersuchung. Bei der Auswertung der Daten der Stallerhebung wurde festgestellt, dass speziell in den Betrieben mit Spaltenböden mehrere Punkte der SHVO (1995) bezüglich der Tiergerechtheit nicht eingehalten wurden. Defizite wurden im Bereich des Platzangebotes, der Spaltendimensionierung, der Trinkwasserversorgung sowie des Beschäftigungsangebotes ermittelt. Probleme, die bei den Stallbesuchen in allen Haltungsformen offensichtlich wurden, bestanden im Bereich des Stallklimas und der Beleuchtung. Im Rahmen der Verhaltensbeobachtungen war das am häufigsten beobachtete Merkmal das Liegeverhalten. Die Schweine in Tieflaufställen lagen signifikant weniger. Die Angaben zur Liegehäufigkeit entsprachen den in der Literatur zu Intensivhaltung angegebenen Werten. Die Tiere beschäftigten sich, durch den Anreiz der Einstreu, in den Strohhaltungsformen signifikant häufiger als in Vollspaltenbetrieben. In Spaltenhaltungsformen nahm die Beschäftigung mit Artgenossen und Gegenständen einen wesentlich höheren Anteil am Gesamtverhalten ein als in Strohhaltungsformen. Verhaltensstörungen wurden in allen Haltungsformen vorgefunden, jedoch nur in sehr geringem Ausmaß. In der Schlussbetrachtung der Arbeit wurden haltungsformspezifische Verbesserungsvorschläge erarbeitet, die sowohl bauliche Maßnahmen als auch Managementfaktoren betrafen und mit den beteiligten Landwirt, The aim of this study was to assess animal welfare in conventional fattening pig systems. Development of means to improve animal welfare shall put the producer in a position to structure the production more in line with consumer requirements. To carry out this assessment the data of 100 fattening pig farms in North-Rhine Westphalia have been analysed. The study comprises of two parts, firstly the collection of operational data and data of housingsystems, and secondly behaviour investigations. In the analysis of the farm data it was found that, particularly in farms with slatted systems important points of the SVHO (1995) were not followed. Deficits were found in space allowance, dimensions of the slatted floors, drinking systems and objects for occupation. Problems apparent in all housing systems were mainly caused by climatic conditions and lighting. In the observational data the most frequent observation was the lying behaviour. This was significantly lower in deep litter systems. The values for the lying behaviour were in line with the figures quoted in the literature for intensively kept pigs. Animals on farms with straw systems, were significantly more active than animals on farms with fully slatted floors, due to the incentives given by the availability of straw. In slatted floor systems the manipulation of penmate and occupational objects were much higher represented in the total behaviour than in straw systems. Abnormal behaviour was found in all housing systems, however only in small amounts. At the end of this study suggestions for ways of improvement were made specific to the relevant husbandry systems, which included housing as well as management factors.

Zielsetzung dieser Arbeit war es, eine Bewertung der Tiergerechtheit in praxisüblichen Mastschweinehaltungen vorzunehmen. Durch Ableitung von Maßnahmen zur Steigerung der Tiergerechtheit soll den Produzenten eine auf Verbrauchereinstellung abgestimmte und praktikable Produktion innerhalb ihrer Haltungsformen erleichtert werden. Dazu wurden an 100 Mastschweine haltenden Betrieben in Nordrhein-Westfalen Erhebungen zur Beurteilung der Tiergerechtheit vorgenommen. Die Untersuchung teilte sich in zwei Bereiche, die Erhebungen von Betriebsdaten zum Management sowie zum Aufstallungssystem und die Verhaltensuntersuchung. Bei der Auswertung der Daten der Stallerhebung wurde festgestellt, dass speziell in den Betrieben mit Spaltenböden mehrere Punkte der SHVO (1995) bezüglich der Tiergerechtheit nicht eingehalten wurden. Defizite wurden im Bereich des Platzangebotes, der Spaltendimensionierung, der Trinkwasserversorgung sowie des Beschäftigungsangebotes ermittelt. Probleme, die bei den Stallbesuchen in allen Haltungsformen offensichtlich wurden, bestanden im Bereich des Stallklimas und der Beleuchtung. Im Rahmen der Verhaltensbeobachtungen war das am häufigsten beobachtete Merkmal das Liegeverhalten. Die Schweine in Tieflaufställen lagen signifikant weniger. Die Angaben zur Liegehäufigkeit entsprachen den in der Literatur zu Intensivhaltung angegebenen Werten. Die Tiere beschäftigten sich, durch den Anreiz der Einstreu, in den Strohhaltungsformen signifikant häufiger als in Vollspaltenbetrieben. In Spaltenhaltungsformen nahm die Beschäftigung mit Artgenossen und Gegenständen einen wesentlich höheren Anteil am Gesamtverhalten ein als in Strohhaltungsformen. Verhaltensstörungen wurden in allen Haltungsformen vorgefunden, jedoch nur in sehr geringem Ausmaß. In der Schlussbetrachtung der Arbeit wurden haltungsformspezifische Verbesserungsvorschläge erarbeitet, die sowohl bauliche Maßnahmen als auch Managementfaktoren betrafen und mit den beteiligten Landwirt, The aim of this study was to assess animal welfare in conventional fattening pig systems. Development of means to improve animal welfare shall put the producer in a position to structure the production more in line with consumer requirements. To carry out this assessment the data of 100 fattening pig farms in North-Rhine Westphalia have been analysed. The study comprises of two parts, firstly the collection of operational data and data of housingsystems, and secondly behaviour investigations. In the analysis of the farm data it was found that, particularly in farms with slatted systems important points of the SVHO (1995) were not followed. Deficits were found in space allowance, dimensions of the slatted floors, drinking systems and objects for occupation. Problems apparent in all housing systems were mainly caused by climatic conditions and lighting. In the observational data the most frequent observation was the lying behaviour. This was significantly lower in deep litter systems. The values for the lying behaviour were in line with the figures quoted in the literature for intensively kept pigs. Animals on farms with straw systems, were significantly more active than animals on farms with fully slatted floors, due to the incentives given by the availability of straw. In slatted floor systems the manipulation of penmate and occupational objects were much higher represented in the total behaviour than in straw systems. Abnormal behaviour was found in all housing systems, however only in small amounts. At the end of this study suggestions for ways of improvement were made specific to the relevant husbandry systems, which included housing as well as management factors.

Zielsetzung dieser Arbeit war es, eine Bewertung der Tiergerechtheit in praxisüblichen Mastschweinehaltungen vorzunehmen. Durch Ableitung von Maßnahmen zur Steigerung der Tiergerechtheit soll den Produzenten eine auf Verbrauchereinstellung abgestimmte und praktikable Produktion innerhalb ihrer Haltungsformen erleichtert werden. Dazu wurden an 100 Mastschweine haltenden Betrieben in Nordrhein-Westfalen Erhebungen zur Beurteilung der Tiergerechtheit vorgenommen. Die Untersuchung teilte sich in zwei Bereiche, die Erhebungen von Betriebsdaten zum Management sowie zum Aufstallungssystem und die Verhaltensuntersuchung. Bei der Auswertung der Daten der Stallerhebung wurde festgestellt, dass speziell in den Betrieben mit Spaltenböden mehrere Punkte der SHVO (1995) bezüglich der Tiergerechtheit nicht eingehalten wurden. Defizite wurden im Bereich des Platzangebotes, der Spaltendimensionierung, der Trinkwasserversorgung sowie des Beschäftigungsangebotes ermittelt. Probleme, die bei den Stallbesuchen in allen Haltungsformen offensichtlich wurden, bestanden im Bereich des Stallklimas und der Beleuchtung. Im Rahmen der Verhaltensbeobachtungen war das am häufigsten beobachtete Merkmal das Liegeverhalten. Die Schweine in Tieflaufställen lagen signifikant weniger. Die Angaben zur Liegehäufigkeit entsprachen den in der Literatur zu Intensivhaltung angegebenen Werten. Die Tiere beschäftigten sich, durch den Anreiz der Einstreu, in den Strohhaltungsformen signifikant häufiger als in Vollspaltenbetrieben. In Spaltenhaltungsformen nahm die Beschäftigung mit Artgenossen und Gegenständen einen wesentlich höheren Anteil am Gesamtverhalten ein als in Strohhaltungsformen. Verhaltensstörungen wurden in allen Haltungsformen vorgefunden, jedoch nur in sehr geringem Ausmaß. In der Schlussbetrachtung der Arbeit wurden haltungsformspezifische Verbesserungsvorschläge erarbeitet, die sowohl bauliche Maßnahmen als auch Managementfaktoren betrafen und mit den beteiligten Landwirt, The aim of this study was to assess animal welfare in conventional fattening pig systems. Development of means to improve animal welfare shall put the producer in a position to structure the production more in line with consumer requirements. To carry out this assessment the data of 100 fattening pig farms in North-Rhine Westphalia have been analysed. The study comprises of two parts, firstly the collection of operational data and data of housingsystems, and secondly behaviour investigations. In the analysis of the farm data it was found that, particularly in farms with slatted systems important points of the SVHO (1995) were not followed. Deficits were found in space allowance, dimensions of the slatted floors, drinking systems and objects for occupation. Problems apparent in all housing systems were mainly caused by climatic conditions and lighting. In the observational data the most frequent observation was the lying behaviour. This was significantly lower in deep litter systems. The values for the lying behaviour were in line with the figures quoted in the literature for intensively kept pigs. Animals on farms with straw systems, were significantly more active than animals on farms with fully slatted floors, due to the incentives given by the availability of straw. In slatted floor systems the manipulation of penmate and occupational objects were much higher represented in the total behaviour than in straw systems. Abnormal behaviour was found in all housing systems, however only in small amounts. At the end of this study suggestions for ways of improvement were made specific to the relevant husbandry systems, which included housing as well as management factors.