Agricultural Engineering Research, Volume 9 (2003)

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Browsing Agricultural Engineering Research, Volume 9 (2003) by Person "Hessel, Engel F."

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    Litterless Housing Systems in the Farrowing Area I : Project Overview and Housing Environment
    (2003) Snell, Hinrich; Kamphues, Barbara; Hessel, Engel F.; Van den Weghe, Herman; Lücke, Wolfgang
    In the project presented here, three housing variants (conventional crate stall, opening crate stall, activity pen) for nursing sows featuring identi- cal environmental conditions were compared over a period of several years. In addition, the objective was to study the effects of a temporally and quantitatively limited straw supply. This first contribution provides an overview of the project. In addition, the results of stall climate meas- urements and the evaluation of pen soiling will be presented. The improved freedom of motion for the mother animals did not result in measurable effects on the stall climate. Small quantities of straw did not lead to any increase in the concentration of suspended dust in the stall air. In quantitative terms, the soiling of otherwise clean pen areas in the activity pens due to the increased mobility of the sows was insignificant.
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    Litterless Housing Systems in the Farrowing Area II
    (2003) Kamphues, Barbara; Snell, Hinrich; Hessel, Engel F.; Van den Weghe, Herman; Lücke, Wolfgang
    Three housing systems (conventional farrowing crate, opening crate, ac- tivity pen) for nursing sows were compared in the present study. In addition, the importance of straw supply, to allow the sows to exhibit nest building behaviour was investigated. The present second contribution deals with selected pathological and ethological criteria as well as biological performance. The improved freedom of motion for the sows resulted in a smaller percentage of soiled animals. The number of lying downs with the sow lying its rear quarter down opposite the grouped piglets was considerably higher in the activity pens. Piglet mortality from crushing occurred more often in activity pens than in conventional farrowing crates or opening crates.
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    The Feed Level Controlled Mash Feeder vs. the Conventional Tube Feeder in Piglet Rearing
    (2003) Hessel, Engel F.; Cordes, Katrin; Van den Weghe, Herman
    In the present study, the influence of a feed level controlled mash feeder on the rearing performance and the eating behaviour of piglets was ex- amined in comparison with a conventional tube feeder. For this purpose, a compartment featuring two pens for 25 piglets each was available. In one group, the feed level controlled mash feeder was used for the first 14 days. As of the 15th day, the animals were fed with the aid of a tube feeder. In the second group, the tube feeder was employed immediately after weaning. Piglets which were fed using the feed level controlled mash feeder showed a significantly higher weight increase during the first 14 days. This advantage was able to be statistically proven even after a five-week rearing period, especially in piglets which weighed less than 5.0 kg when stalled up. In the first two weeks, an additional weight gain of 660 g was achieved, while additional feed consumption was 815 g. In addition, more unrest in the feeding place area was observed in this trial group. Significantly more piglets tried to reach the trough, but were not able to eat because all feeding places were occupied.