@misc{orgprints13722,
           month = {June},
           title = {Effect of rooting area and drinker in the outdoor run on behaviour and Ascaris infection of organic pigs},
          author = {Herman M. Vermeer and Fred H.M. Borgsteede and Cor P.A. Gaasenbeek and Henk Altena},
            year = {2006},
          series = {QLIF final report},
        keywords = {pigs; pen design; excretory behaviour; Ascaris; rooting area},
             url = {http://orgprints.org/13722/},
        abstract = {Hygiene is often a problem on the outdoor runs of growing organic pigs. Manure and urine are mainly excreted outside, but spread all over the run. Reduc-ing the dirty surface may improve well being, reduce ammonia emission, improve hygiene and reduce labour and parasite infections. The presence of a rooting area and of a drinker on the outdoor run were tested in a 2x2 factorial design. The pens with the rooting areas had a higher number of pigs on the outdoor run than the pens without a rooting area (1.6 vs 1.2 pigs). This was caused by more pigs in area 2 and 3. At higher temperatures there were more pigs outside, except in the root-ing area: this was popular at all temperatures.
A rooting area resulted in a cleaner outdoor area, however in some cases the root-ing area became a dunging area. An extra outdoor drinker leads to a cleaner area around the drinker, but to a dirtier indoor area. No difference in Ascaris infection was found between the four treatment combinations.
}
}