Environmental Suitability Of Housing For Gestation Sows

As swine production has been developed in Brazil, most research has been carried out in traditional areas of knowledge such as genetics, nutrition and reproduction. To obtain high quality meat is the main goal of producers, and welfare issues are not much understood. Behavior studies are helpful in showing the animal response to certain exposures, such as air quality and adequate overall rearing environment. Welfare issues are gaining importance in Brazilian meat production as their destination is increasingly for supplying external market. The objective of this research was to evaluate the gestating sow rearing conditions, such as thermal and aerial environmental conditions, and noise level in two distinct types of rearing management conditions: in group room and in cages. The experiment took place in a commercial swine farm in the state of São Paulo. The following variables were recorded in the geometric center of the housing at 1.5 m above the floor: dry-bulb, wet-bulb and black globe temperatures; wind speed; noise level, and gas concentration. Data were statistically analyzed using ANO VA. Results showed that the air quality was good when compared to the standard thresholds in both rearing conditions. The chemical quality of the air inside the gestating rearing conditions can be considered good, since the average measures of the studied gases inside both housings didn 't exceed the critical values for gestating sows. Noise level data is within the norm. As to the temperature, for example, it could be observed that the obtained data is higher than what it required by the standard, therefore it may result in reproductive problems for the animals.447452(2006) Associação Brasileira da Indústria Produtora e Exportadora de Carne Súina, pp. 26-11. , http://www.abipecs.org.br/relatórios/ABIPECS-relatorio-2006-pt.pdf, Accessed em, Accessed emBarbosa, N.C., (1998) Poluição Sonora, , Goiânia, FEMAGOChang, C.W., Chung, H., Huang, C.F., Su, H.J.J., Exposure assessment to airbone endotoxin, dust, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide in open style swine houses (2001) Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 45 (6), pp. 457-465De La Sota, M.D., (2005) Manual de procedimientos en bienestar animal. Dirección de luchas sanitarias, pp. 30-11. , http://www.senasa.gov.ar/sanidad/pdf/05bienestar.pdf, Buenos Aires. Argentina. Disponivel em, Acesso emJensen, A.O., Changing the environment in swine buildings using sulfuric acid (2002) American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE), 45 (1), pp. 223-227Le Neindre, P., Guémené, D., Arnould, C., Leterrier, C., Faure, J.M., Prunier, A., Meunier-Salän, M.C., Space, environmental design and behaviour: Effect of space and environment on animal welfare (2004) Global Conference on Animal Welfare: An OIE initiative.2004. [on-line], , www.oie.int/eng/Welfare-2004/Conference.htm, Disponível em Acesso em 24/02/2005Lott, B. 2003. El amoníaco puede causar pérdidas importantes. Indústria Avícota, Illinois, U.S., 50(10): 8-10Marchant, J.N., Whittakerb, X., Broom, D.M., Vocalisations of the adult female domestic pig during a standard human approach test and their relationships with behavioural and heart rate measures (2001) Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 72 (2), pp. 23-39Nääs, I.A., Aspectos fisicos da construção no controle térmico do ambiente das instalações (1994) Anais da conferéncia Apinco, Ciência e Tecnologia Avícola, p. 176. , Santos, pPandorii, H., Comportamento bioclimático de matrizes suínas em gestação e o uso de sistemas inteligentes na caracterização do ambiente produtivo: Suinocultura de precisão Piracicaba: Escola Superior de Agriculture Luiz de Queiroz (2005) Universidade de São Paulo, (Tese, Doutorado em Agronomia, Área de Concentração: Física do Ambiente Agrícola), , 136 pPeltoniemi, O.A.T., Love, R.J., Heinomen, M., Tuovinem, V., Saloniemi, H., Seasonal and management effects on fertility of the sow: A descriptive study (1999) Animal Reproduction Science, 55, pp. 47-61Schmidt, D.R., Jacobson, L.D., Janni, K.A., (2002) Continuous monitoring of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and dust emissions from swine, dairy and poultry barns, , ASAE, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. 14pSilva, I.J.O., Sistemas naturais e artificiais do controle do ambiente-climatização (1999) Ambiência Qualidade na Produção Industrial de Suinos, pp. 81-111. , Piracicaba: FEALQ, pVan Putten, G.T., The pig: A model for discussing animal behaviour and welfare (1989) Appl Anim Behav Sci, 22, pp. 115-128Veit, H.P., Troutt, H.F., Monitoring air quality for livestock respiratory health (1982) Veterinary Medicine and Small Animal Clinician, 77, pp. 454-46