• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제22권11호
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• pp.1574-1580
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• 2009

To evaluate the effect of different housing systems on sow behavior, 80 gilts were randomly allocated at puberty to four treatments: i) sow stall in gestation followed by farrowing crate (SC), ii) group housing with individual feeding in gestation followed by farrowing crate (GC), iii) ESF (Electronic Sow Feeding) system in gestation followed by farrowing crate (EC), and iv) ESF system followed by group farrowing pen (EG). Behavioral observations were carried out on a total of 16 animals per treatment at the following stages: first day of allocation to housing treatment, day of service, 80 days after service, 109 days after service on entry to farrowing accommodation, 24 h before farrowing, day of farrowing, 14, 27 and 28 days after farrowing, at weaning. On each occasion, individual animals were observed for a 24 period with one minute time sampling. There were significant differences (p<0.001) between stages of the reproductive cycle for all the behavior patterns in all treatments. On the first day in experimental housing treatments, sows spent more time rooting and dog-sitting. Activity and investigatory behavior decreased as pregnancy progressed. An activity peak was apparent just before farrowing, followed by a high level of inactivity on the day of farrowing. Time spent active, eating and drinking increased as lactation progressed, and greatest activity and locomotion was seen immediately following weaning. There were significant differences between housing treatments (p<0.01) for standing, moving, eating, drinking, dog-sitting and lying. During pregnancy SC sows spent more time standing, rooting, drinking and dog sitting, while EC sows spent less time rooting and drinking and more time lying. During lactation, GC sows spent more time standing, moving and eating, less time dog sitting and lateral lying. Nursing frequency was reduced in GC sows (p<0.001). The maternal and piglet behaviors were influenced strongly by environment during lactation. However, it was also shown that previous housing history can influence the maternal behavior in the pre-farrowing stage and during early lactation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제22권9호
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• pp.1328-1333
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• 2009

To evaluate different housing systems, 80 gilts were randomly allocated at puberty to four treatments: i) sow stall in gestation followed by farrowing crate (SC), ii) group housing with individual feeding in gestation followed by farrowing crate (GC), iii) ESF (Electronic Sow Feeding) system in gestation followed by farrowing crate (EC), and iv) ESF system followed by group farrowing pen (EG). The results showed that stalled sows had a longer interval between puberty and second estrus (p<0.001). The sows kept in the ESF system gained more body weight (p<0.01) and backfat (p<0.05) prior to service, and more backfat during gestation (p<0.05), but also had greater backfat losses in the subsequent lactation (p<0.01). Sows changing from loose housing to confinement at farrowing had longer gestation length (p<0.001). Total litter size did not differ significantly between gestation treatments, but the number of stillborn piglets was significantly higher in the SC treatment (p<0.01). After weaning, SC sows had the longest interval for rebreeding (p<0.001). Some EG sows came into heat before weaning, giving this treatment the shortest interval. These results indicate that gestation confinement in sow stalls had several detrimental effects on sow performance relative to group housing.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제62권2호
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• pp.218-226
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• 2020

The present study investigated the effects of loose farrowing type during gestation and after farrowing on reproductive performance and of lactating sows. A total of 22 primiparous sows (Landrace; average initial body weights [BW], 228.54 ± 12.79 kg) were allotted to one of two treatments on the basis of body weight. Sows were divided into two experimental groups, conventional farrowing crates (CON), and loosed-farrowing pens (LFP). The experiment duration was around 38 days ranging from 10 days before parturition to 28 days after parturition. Gestating sows at the age of 105 d were placed in gestational stalls (group housing). All the sows were fed a common diet according to the National Research Council requirements for lactation. Cross-fostering was performed within 1 day of parturition. From 1 day after weaning, estrus detection was performed twice-daily (0900 and 1730 h) for 10 min by boar exposure. There were significant effects of LFP housing type on the farrowing duration, and farrowing interval. At the farrowing time, none of the litter parameters including total born, stillborn, mummy, born alive piglets and total litter weight and piglet weight were affected. There were no effects of housing type on the mortality of piglets at d 1, 3, 7, 21, and 28. In conclusion, the result of this study showed that there is no performance difference between the crated or LFP sows, which indicate that the LFP housing has the potential to be used as an alternative to the crated house without any detrimental effects in reproduction performance of lactating sows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.742-747
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• 2019

Objective: A concentration of airborne bacteria generated from swine houses is recognized to be relatively higher than other work places and it is essential to optimally manage it to prevent farmers' respiratory diseases. This study was conducted to assess the distribution characteristics of airborne bacteria in swine houses located at South Korea. Methods: A total 27 pig buildings of the enclosed type operated with mechanical ventilation system by a side wall fan and deep-pit manure system with slats were surveyed. Air samples were collected at 1.0 m above the middle floor in pig housing room. A six-stage viable particulate cascade impactor was used to identify the distribution of the sizes of particles in diameter. Results: Seasonal mean levels of airborne bacteria in the housing rooms of gestation/farrowing pigs, nursery pigs and growing/fattening pigs were 3,428(${\pm}1,244$) colony forming unit $(cfu)/m^3$, $8,325({\pm}3,209)cfu/m$, and $13,254({\pm}6,108)cfu/m^3$ for spring; $9,824({\pm}2,157)cfu/m^3$, $18,254({\pm}5,166)cfu/m^3$, and $24,088({\pm}9,274)cfu/m^3$ for summer; $1,707({\pm}957)cfu/m^3$, $4,258({\pm}1,438)cfu/m^3$, and $8,254({\pm}2,416)cfu/m^3$ for autumn; and $2,322({\pm}1,352)cfu/m^3$, $6,124({\pm}1,527)cfu/m^3$ and $12,470({\pm}4,869)cfu/m^3$ for winter, respectively. Conclusion: Concentrations of airborne bacteria according to pig housing type were highest in growing/fattening housing room followed by nursery housing room and gestation/farrowing housing room. In terms of seasonal aspect, the pig building showed the highest levels of airborne bacteria in summer followed by spring, winter and autumn. The respirable airborne bacteria which are ranged between 0.6 and $4.7{\mu}m$ accounted for approximately 60% compared to total airborne bacteria regardless of pig housing type.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제63권2호
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• pp.199-210
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• 2021

A number of management issues can be used as drivers for change in order to improve animal welfare and nursing capacity of the hyperprolific sow. Group housing of sows during gestation is a recommended practice from the perspective of animal welfare. Related health issues include reproductive health and the locomotor system. It appears that management of pregnant sows in groups is challenging for a producer and considerable skill is required. We explored the benefits and challenges of group housing, including feeding issues. Increasing litter size requires additional attention to the mammary gland and its ability to provide sufficient nursing for the growing litter. We discuss the fundamentals of mammary development and the specific challenges related to the hyperprolific sow. We also address challenges with the farrowing environment. It appears that the old-fashioned farrowing crate is not only outdated in terms of welfare from the public's perspective, but also fails to provide the environment that the sow needs to support her physiology of farrowing, nursing, and maternal behaviour. Studies from our group and others indicate that providing the sow with a loose housing system adequate in space and nesting material, along with reasonable chance for isolation, can be considered as fundamental for successful farrowing of the hyperprolific sow. It has also been shown that management strategies, such as split suckling and cross fostering, are necessary to ensure proper colostrum intake for all piglets born alive in a large litter. We thus conclude that welfare and nursing capacity of the sow can be improved by management. However, current megatrends such as the climate change may change sow management and force the industry to rethink goals of breeding and, for instance, breeding for better resilience may need to be included as goals for the future.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제45권6호
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• pp.1067-1078
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• 2003

산차가 다른 임신모돈의 임신기간 동안 스톨수용과 군사수용이 임신, 분만 및 비유기간 중 모돈의 행동패턴과 이상반복행동 및 분만성적에 미치는 영향을 조사하기 위하여 총 18두의 듀록(Duroc)종 모돈을 산차별로 1산차, 2${\sim}$3산차 및 4${\sim}$5산차 각각 3두씩 배치하여 임신초기 4주간은 스톨에 수용 후 각각 스톨과 군사돈방에 수용하였고, 분만예정일 7일전에 분만돈방으로 옮겼으며 21일간 포유로 수행하여 얻은 성적은 다음과 같다. 임신기간 동안의 모돈 행동패턴과 이상반복행동은 임신 60일과 90일 경과 시점에 24시간 동안, 분만당일 모돈 행동은 분만 2시간 전부터 후산이 배출되는 시점까지 약 6시간 동안, 비유기간 동안의 모돈 행동은 분만 10일 후, 2시간 반 동안 조사하였다. 또한 임신기간 동안 군사수용과 스톨수용 모돈의 분만성적을 비교하였다. 임신기간 동안 군사수용과 스톨수용 모돈의 행동은 옆으로 누워(ventral lying)있는 시간 비율이 양쪽 모두 가장 높았고, 산차에 따라서는 초산 모돈(71.3%)이 가장 높았다. 걷는(walking) 동작은 스톨수용 보다 군사수용이 월등히 높게 나타났고(8.68% 대 16.38%, SE=1.74; P<0.01), 산차 간에는 초산 모돈이 가장 낮았다. 마시는 (drinking) 동작으로 보낸 시간 비율은 군사수용 보다 스톨수용(0.27% 대 1.99%, SE=0.28)이 월등히 높게 나타났다(P<0.01). 임신기간 동안 나타내는 이상반복행동 발현수는 헛 씹기(vacuum chewing)가 스톨수용 임신 60일 경과시 가장 높았고, 산차와 임신일 간의 상호작용에서는 4${\sim}$5산차 임신돈의 임신 60일 경과가 높았다(P<0.05). 코로 바닥 문지르기(floor snout rubbing)는 수용형태${\times}$산차의 상호작용이 나타났으며, 군사 1산차가 가장 높게 나타났다(P<0.05). 바닥 핥기(floor licking)는 임신 90일이 높았고(P<0.01), 수용형태$\times$임신일의 상호작용에서는 군사 90일이 높게 나타났다. 머리 흔들기(head waving)은 임신 60일이 높게 나타났으며, 쇠 핥기(bar licking)는 임신 90일이 높게 나타났다(P<0.05). 총 이상행동의 발현수는 스톨수용과 군사수용 간에 차이가 나타나지 않았다. 분만돈의 행동패턴은 앉아 있는 자세와 먹는 자세로 보낸 시간 비율만 유의적인 차이를 나타내었고, 앉아 있는 자세에서는 스톨수용 1산차(3.7%)와 군사수용 2${\sim}$3산차(2.7%)가 다른 산차 보다 높게 나타났다. 먹는 자세로 보낸 시간 비율은 군사 2${\sim}$3산차 만이 낮게 나타났다. 비유모돈의 행동패턴은 임신기간 동안 군사수용 1산차 모돈의 옆으로 누워 있는(ventral lying) 시간 비율이 높았고, 마시는(drinking) 동작은 임신기간 동안 스톨 수용 모돈이 높았으며, 특히 초산 모돈이 다른 산차의 모돈에 비하여 많은 시간을 물먹는데 소비하는 것으로 나타났다. 이상의 결과를 종합해 보면, 임신기간 동안 수용형태에 따른 임신돈의 임신기간 동안의 행동패턴과 이상반복행동 발현수의 차이는 나타나지 않았으나, 비유모돈의 행동패턴과 이상반복행동 발현에 대한 결과는 군사수용 모돈이 보다 좋은 복지 상태에 있다는 것을 나타내고 있다. 또한 분만성적이 임신기간 동안 스톨수용과 군사수용 간에 차이를 나타내지 않았다. 따라서 모돈의 보다 많은 정상행동을 보장하고 복지상태를 개선하기 위해서는 임신돈의 군사수용은 스톨수용을 대체할 사양체계로서 그 가능성은 충분하며, 실제 적용을 위한 보다 진전된 연구가 필요한 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제63권4호
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• pp.892-903
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• 2021

The objective of this study is to investigate effect of air cleaner operated during pig breeding period on stress hormones of pigs and their pork quality. The stress hormones (cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine) in blood sample of pigs reared in the housing rooms with or without air cleaner have been measured according to a pig's rearing stage: 0 day (farrowing), 21st day (farrowing-weaning), 70th day (weaning-nursery), 140th day (nursery-growing), and 180th day (growing-fattening). The comparison of pork quality according to the application of an air cleaner was performed through the carcass analysis of the pigs shipped from swine house. The levels of cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine in pigs reared in housing rooms with and without air cleaners were found to be within the range of normal reference values. Among pork quality evaluation items, the thickness of intermuscular fat and final carcass grade of pigs raised in housing room with air cleaner was generally superior to those of pigs raised in housing room without air cleaner (p < 0.05). Based on the results obtained from this study, it is concluded that air cleaner does not have a significant effect on reducing pig stress but contributes to improving pork quality in pig breeding.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.142-148
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• 2016

The present study investigated the effects of back-fat thickness at d 107 of gestation and housing types during gestation on reproductive performance and behavior of sows. A total of 64 crossbred sows ($Landrace{\times}Yorkshire$) in their 3 to 4 parities were allotted to one of four treatments (n = 16) over two consecutive parities. During each parity, sows were assigned to two gestational housing types (stall or group housing) and two level of back-fat thickness (<20 or ${\geq}20$) at d 107 of gestation. Gestating sows were transferred from gestational crates to stalls or pens (group housing) 5 weeks before farrowing. All sows were moved to farrowing crates on d 109 of gestation. At weaning, back-fat thickness changes were lesser (p<0.05) in sows having back-fat thickness <20 mm than that of sows with ${\geq}20mm$ back-fat thickness at 107 d of gestation. Group housed sows had greater (p<0.05) feed intake and shorter (p<0.05) weaning-to-estrus interval than that of sows in stalls. At weaning, back-fat thickness changes were lesser (p<0.05) in group housed sows than that of sows in stalls. The number of piglets at weaning, growth rate and average daily gain were greater (p<0.05) in group housed sows than that of sows in stalls. During gestation, walking duration was more (p<0.05) in group housed sows. Group housed sows had lesser (p<0.05) farrowing duration and greater (p<0.05) eating time than that of sows in stalls. Result obtained in present study indicated that sows with ${\geq}20mm$ back-fat thickness at 107 days had better reproductive performance. Additionally, group housing of sows during last five week of gestation improved the performance and behavior and reproductive efficiency of sows.

• 한국축산시설환경학회지
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.129-134
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• 2010

본 실태조사는 분만돈방과 분만틀 사용실태를 조사함으로써 분만돈의 동물복지 수준을 향상시킬 수 있는 대체 사육시설을 개발하는데 필요한 기초자료를 확보하기 위해 실시되었다. 분만돈방은 크게 형태별로 수직형 분만돈방과 사선형 분만돈방 두 가지로 구분되었으며, 분만틀은 압사방지 바(Bar)의 형태를 기준으로 수평형(Horizontal bar) 분만틀, 수직형(Vertical bar) 분만틀로 구분되었다. 기타 시설물에 대한 조사결과, 조사농가의 전체가 니플형 급수시설을 사용하고 있었으며, 약 80%가 습식급이기를 사용하고 있었고, 조사 농가의 약 40%가 전체틈바닥, 약 60%가 부분 틈바닥이었으며, 분만돈 두당 최소 $3.9\;m^2$ 이상의 면적을 제공하고 있었다. 국내의 다양한 사육시설과 환경으로 인하여 일괄적인 구조개선이나 새로운 사육시설의 적용은 쉽지 않을 것으로 판단되지만 이러한 국내 양돈농가의 실태조사 자료들을 동물복지 수준을 향상시킬 수 있는 대체 사육시설을 개발하는데 좋은 기초자료가 될 것이라 생각한다.

• 한국축산시설환경학회지
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.205-215
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• 2010

지열히트펌프를 이용한 축사용 냉난방시스템을 개발하고 농장 적용성을 검토하기 위하여 330 $m^2$ 규모의 농장에 개발 시스템을 설치하여 돈사에서의 난방 이용효과를 분석하였으며, 그 결과는 다음과 같다. 1. 지열 난방시 부하량은 24,104 kcal이었으며 농장시험 지열이용 냉난방시스템의 제원은 히트펌프 용량은 10 USRT 였으며, 상부 덕트형 30,000 kcal 홴코일유니트를 사용하였으며 FCU의 풍량은 90 $m^3$/분 이었다. 2. 지열 난방 1주령시 외부 최고기온 $14.2^{\circ}C$, 최저 영하 $9.3^{\circ}C$일때 시험구는 평균 $21.5^{\circ}C$로서 대조구 $19.8^{\circ}C$에 비하여 높았다. 3. 지열 난방 시험돈사의 먼지 농도는 PM10 185.3, PM2.5 40, PM1.0 $23.4{\mu}g/m^3$으로 대조구 PM10 481.4, PM2.5 47, PM1.0 $28.2{\mu}g/m^3$에 비하여 낮았다.4. 지열 난방 시험돈사의 유해가스농도는 $CO_2$ 1,470, $NH_3$ 10.6, $H_2S$ 0.05 ppm으로서 대조구 $CO_2$ 2,025, $NH_3$ 23.3, $H_2S$ 0.69 ppm에 비하여 유의적으로 (p<0.05) 낮았다. 5. 지열난방시 복당 이유두수는 10.5두로 대조구 10.4두에 비하여 높았으며 이유시체 중도 6.93 kg으로 대조구 6.86 kg에 비하여 컸으며 특히 온도가 낮은 대조구에서 모돈사료 섭취량이 99.6 kg으로 시험구 88.2 kg 보다 유의적으로 (p<0.05) 많았다. 6. 지열 난방시 외부기온과 지하수 순환량에 있어서 외부기온이 낮을 경우 1일간 8.4-12.9톤으로 지하수 순환량이 많았다.