engleski

The influence of population density on the microclimatic conditions and swine stress

The microclimatic conditions can be determined by population density in animla facility, thereby influencing the swine welfare in the intensive production. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of porcine density on the microbiological air quality and other microclimatic parameters, bedsides their possible influence on stress occurence in the animals. The research was conducted in the facility size 450 m2 equipped with an under-pressure ventilation system through the shift A/B with 464/392 fattening pigs. In the course of each shift for a period of 110 days, the air samples were taken per month in order to determine the total number of mesophyll bacterial cells. At that point, air temperature, relative humidity, air flow and ammonia concentration in the facility were measured as well. Furthermore. in each shift 15 pigs were randomly selected for bolld taking in three-time regular intervals for determining the concentration of plasmatic cortisol as an indicator of animal stress. The results show that the total number of mesophyll bacteral cells in the air was significantly higher in shift A than in shift B. Other microclimatic conditions in both shifts were approximately equal and otpimal for porcine housing at fattening facilites. The average level of plasmatic cortisol ranged from 144 to 192 nmol/l and 156 to 242 nmol/l, in A shift pigs and B shift pigs, respectively, thereby proving no statistically significant difference between them. The research confirms the results of earlier studies on the influence of population densitiy on microbiological air quality in swine production. The levels of plasmatic cortisol obtained from the research show the necessity of further lager scale experiments for investigating the influence of porcine housing conditions on animal stress.

pigs; stress; air quality; microlimate; cortisol

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