Die technische Beeinflussung des Verhaltens von Sauen am Beispiel der Aufruffütterung und einer aktiven Erdrückungsverhinderung

Under intensive husbandry conditions, the natural behaviour repertoire of livestock is often contrary to an optimal productivity and also animal welfare. This problem can be reduced by technically manipulating the animal behaviour in terms of precision livestock farming, so that husbandry conditions and animal behaviour adjust mutually to one another. The current work exemplifies this approach for appetitive stimulations at the example of call feeding gestating sows and for aversive stimulations at the example of preliminary studies for a method to actively prevent piglet crushing.Unter intensiven Haltungsbedingungen ist das angeborene Verhaltensrepertoire von Nutztieren häufig einer optimalen Produktivität aber auch einem optimalen Tierwohl zuwiderlaufend. Durch technische Verhaltensbeeinflussung im Sinne von precision livestock farming kann eine gegenseitige Anpassung der Haltungsbedingungen und des Tierverhaltens umgesetzt werden, die dieses Problem verringert. Dieser Ansatz wird in der vorliegenden Arbeit für appetitive Reize am Beispiel der Aufruffütterung trächtiger Sauen und für aversive Reize anhand von Vorstudien für ein Verfahren zur aktiven Verhinderung von Ferkelerdrückungen dargestellt

Welfare of pigs on farm

This scientific opinion focuses on the welfare of pigs on farm, and is based on literature and expert opinion. All pig categories were assessed: gilts and dry sows, farrowing and lactating sows, suckling piglets, weaners, rearing pigs and boars. The most relevant husbandry systems used in Europe are described. For each system, highly relevant welfare consequences were identified, as well as related animal-based measures (ABMs), and hazards leading to the welfare consequences. Moreover, measures to prevent or correct the hazards and/or mitigate the welfare consequences are recommended. Recommendations are also provided on quantitative or qualitative criteria to answer specific questions on the welfare of pigs related to tail biting and related to the European Citizen's Initiative ‘End the Cage Age’. For example, the AHAW Panel recommends how to mitigate group stress when dry sows and gilts are grouped immediately after weaning or in early pregnancy. Results of a comparative qualitative assessment suggested that long-stemmed or long-cut straw, hay or haylage is the most suitable material for nest-building. A period of time will be needed for staff and animals to adapt to housing lactating sows and their piglets in farrowing pens (as opposed to crates) before achieving stable welfare outcomes. The panel recommends a minimum available space to the lactating sow to ensure piglet welfare (measured by live-born piglet mortality). Among the main risk factors for tail biting are space allowance, types of flooring, air quality, health status and diet composition, while weaning age was not associated directly with tail biting in later life. The relationship between the availability of space and growth rate, lying behaviour and tail biting in rearing pigs is quantified and presented. Finally, the panel suggests a set of ABMs to use at slaughter for monitoring on-farm welfare of cull sows and rearing pigs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio