Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences

 


KfreePig   (terminated)


A new approach to Pig Husbandry: reduced emissions, no tail-docking, no castration, no crates: effects on animal health, behaviour, farmer`s satisfaction and environment


 

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Conventional pig farming is dominated by housing systems that are not or only partially behaviourally appropriate, such as the sow-crate, flat-deck and unstructured single-area pens without suitable opportunities for exploration.

As results behavioural problems such as piglet crushing and tail biting but also poor animal health arises. Some of the pathogens have zoonotic potential, partially without being noticeable in pigs.

In addition to animal welfare, environmental aspects from animal husbandry are a central problem, which becomes evident, among other things, by ammonia emissions in regions with a high concentration of livestock farms. Unfortunately, the conversion of husbandry systems in the direction of greater animal welfare often conflicts with the aim to lower emissions.

Since improved husbandry and optimized manure-urine management have a decisive direct and indirect influence on pig welfare and health, there is an urgent need for improved husbandry methods to enhance the health status and well-being of the animals and at the same time to reduce emissions in the interests of improved animal, environmental and consumer protection and social acceptance of pig husbandry in Germany.

The aim of the project is therefore the scientific evaluation of a novel pig husbandry system without crating and without non-curative procedures (no docking and castration) while optimizing emissions management. In relation to the goals of the German livestock strategy to improve animal welfare, the focus will be on animal-centred analyses to evaluate animal welfare based on animal behaviour in a system comparison to conventional pig farming.

This system comparison will be complemented, first, by quantifying the general health status, particularly the Swine Inflammation and Necrosis Syndrome (SINS), and, second, by the measurement of emissions and environmental impacts of the farm's own development for faecal-urine separation.

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In addition, an assessment of labour economic parameters and job satisfaction in the new housing system compared to the conventional one is carried out.

If a positive effect of the husbandry system under investigation on the health status and welfare of the animals can be determined, this husbandry system represents a promising step towards socially accepted farm animal husbandry. If, in addition, a reduction of the environmental impact and an increase in job satisfaction can be demonstrated, this housing system would be a showcase example of sustainable pig farming.

 

 


Project management:

Prof. Dr. Edna Hillmann


Project staff:

Maximilian Knoll


Participating external organizations:

• Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Clinic for Swine
• Leibniz-Institut für Agrartechnik und Bioökonomie (ATB), Engineering for Livestock Management


Financer:

Federal Office for Agriculture and Food


Duration of project:

12/2021 - 06/2023