creators_name: Vermeer, Herman M.
creators_name: Borgsteede, Fred H.M.
creators_name: Gaasenbeek, Cor P.A.
creators_name: Altena, Henk
type: report
datestamp: 2008-07-21
lastmod: 2009-08-20 14:39:42
metadata_visibility: show
title: Effect of rooting area and drinker in the outdoor run on behaviour and Ascaris infection of organic pigs
ispublished: pub
subjects: 7pigs
subjects: 7animalhealth
subjects: 5emissions
full_text_status: public
keywords: pigs; pen design; excretory behaviour; Ascaris; rooting area
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.

date: 2006-06
date_type: published
series: QLIF final report
institution: Animal Sciences Group of Wageningen University and Research Centre
refereed: never
citation: Vermeer, Herman M.; Borgsteede, Fred H.M.; Gaasenbeek, Cor P.A. and Altena, Henk (2006) Effect of rooting area and drinker in the outdoor run on behaviour and Ascaris infection of organic pigs. QLIF final report, 4.1.1.3. *
document_url: http://orgprints.org/13722/1/Vermeer_QLIF_4-1-1-3_RIAH_final_report_11-04-06.pdf