"Innovations for existing rearing and finishing pig barns in Austria (IBeSt) - improving animal and human welfare"
Abstract
Pigs are kept across Europe according to legal requirements (EU Commission, 2009), commonly in housing systems with slatted flooring. There, possibilities to provide material for exploration, as well as available space is limited. At the same time, there is increasing societal concern regarding pig welfare, as well as farmers’ initiatives to improve conditions for their animals, whilst taking economic as well as environmental concerns into account. In order to identify fast and practical solutions for existing buildings, the aim of this study is to improve weaners and growing-finishing systems regarding fulfilment of pigs’ behavioural needs to explore, perform social, resting, eliminatory and thermoregulatory behaviour. The study will include three work package, with focus on pigs, people and the environment, which will be interlinked across all activities. During the initial phase, through (scientific) literature, excursions and farm visits, existing solutions will be explored. This will provide the basis for a “package” of measures, which will include increased space allowance per pig, larger groups, availability of functional areas for pigs (e.g. lying and dunging area) and exploratory material. In total 18 pig farms (9 weaners, 9 growing-finishing farms) will be encouraged to participate and measures implemented on some of the existing pens (case-control study). During the longer, second phase, the effectiveness of the measures will be evaluated using indicators regarding pig welfare, environmental impacts and human wellbeing. This will include regular farm visits for data collection, including data from abattoirs as well as treatment and productivity data. Also, workshops and a series of seminars will provide the possibility for farmers to reflect and exchange their experiences regarding ethical aspects, consequences for the family and the practical implementation of the measures. The outcome of this project will be a set of practical measures to implement in existing systems, which will be available for many farmers, so that welfare of many pigs can be quickly improved.
keywords animal welfare improvement existing housing systems rearing and fattening pigs human
Publikationen
Project staff
Christine Leeb
Assoc. Prof. Priv.-Doz. Dr.med.vet. Christine Leeb
christine.leeb@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-93227
Project Leader
15.12.2021 - 14.06.2025
Ika Darnhofer
Assoc. Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Ika Darnhofer Ph.D.
ika.darnhofer@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-73320
Sub Projectleader
15.12.2021 - 14.06.2025
Anna Lena Palmetzhofer
Mag. Anna Lena Palmetzhofer
annalena.palmetzhofer@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-93238
Project Staff
15.12.2021 - 14.06.2025