ABSTRACT
The effect of cage or deep litter housing on production performance of White Leghorn was investigated in this experiment. A total 144 pullets of White Leghorn were randomly assigned to two treatments as; Cage housing and Deep litter housing. Results revealed that body weight at sexual maturity was significantly (P<0.05) lower in birds reared in cage than the deep litter housing. Moreover, lower feed intake was observed in birds kept in cages than that of deep litter housing. Feed conversion ratio in terms of feed intake/dozen eggs or feed intake/kg egg mass was better in birds reared in cages than the deep litter housing. The average hen day and hen house egg production were not affected due to different housing systems. Egg quality traits like albumen index, yolk index and Haugh unit score were significantly (P<0.05) higher for eggs produced by birds reared in cage housing than the deep litter housing. The profit of about 20% was observed in cage housing over deep litter housing. It was concluded that the lower feed consumption and body weight at sexual maturity, better feed conversion, egg quality and economic returns were achieved in cages compared to deep litter housing. However, cage or deep litter housing had no effect on egg production
ABSTRACT
Deep litter systems represent low cost alternatives to raise growing-finishing pigs, reducing slurry accumulation, although pig's thermal comfort may be negatively affected by the heat produced inside the litter. This study compared environmental and performance parameters for growing-finishing pigs raised on deep litter systems having distinct depths and on solid floor. The experiment was conducted in a region of temperate climate of Brazil, comparing three treatments: litter having rice husk 0.5m (T1); and 0.25m deep (T2); and solid concrete floor (T3). The first litter was used in two lots and replaced by a second litter used in other two lots, during 52 weeks. Each lot included five pigs in a 7m² pen, from 60 to 145 d of age. Environmental parameters were determined at weekly intervals, including: atmospheric temperature; relative humidity; temperature at the center of the pen, in the surface (TSF); and at half of the depth (THD), only for T1 and T2. Feed consumption and weight of pigs were measured every four weeks. Atmospheric temperature and relative humidity were not influenced by the treatments (P>0.05). Mean TSF was 22.8 ± 3.6°C, being lower for T3 (P<0.05), but with no difference between T1 and T2 (P>0.05). TSF was higher for new than for used litters (P<0.001) and for the first than for the second litter (P=0.03), apparently increasing in lots raised during termophilic phases. Mean THD was 33.8±10.8°C, being higher for T1 than for T2 (P<0.05). THD was also higher for new than for used litters (P<0.001) and for the first than for the second litters (P<0.05). No growth performance parameter differed across treatments (P>0.05). Despite the potential unfavorable thermal comfort under high temperatures, deep litter systems can be used to raise pigs in the growing-finishing phases due to the absence of negative effects for growth performance.
O uso de cama representa uma alternativa de baixo custo para a criação de suínos em crescimento e em terminação, promovendo redução do acúmulo de dejetos, embora o conforto térmico dos animais possa ser prejudicado pelo calor produzido no interior da cama. Este estudo compara os parâmetros ambientais e o desempenho de crescimento de suínos em sistemas de criação sobre cama, com profundidades distintas, e sobre piso concreto. O experimento foi realizado em uma região de clima temperado na região Sul do Brasil, comparando três tratamentos: cama de casca de arroz com 0,5m (T1), com 0,25m de profundidade (T2) e piso de concreto (T3). A primeira cama foi usada em dois lotes de animais e foi substituída por uma segunda, usada em outros dois lotes, compreendendo 52 semanas. Cada lote foi constituído por cinco animais criados dos 60 aos 145 dias de idade, em uma baia de 7m². Os seguintes parâmetros ambientais foram medidos semanalmente: temperatura ambiente, umidade relativa e temperatura no centro da baia, na superfície (TSF) e na metade da profundidade da cama (TMP), apenas em T1 e T2. O consumo de ração e o peso dos animais foram aferidos a cada quatro semanas. A temperatura ambiente e a umidade relativa não foram influenciadas pelos tratamentos (P>0,05). A TSF média foi de 22,8±3,6°C, sendo menor no T3 (P<0,05), mas sem diferir entre T1 e T2 (P>0,05). A TSF foi mais alta nas camas novas do que nas usadas (P<0,001) e nas primeiras camas em comparação com as segundas (P=0,03), aparentemente sendo mais alta nos lotes criados durante as fases termofílicas. A TMP média foi de 33,8 ± 10,8°C, sendo mais alta no T1 do que no T2 (P<0,05). A TMP também foi mais alta nas camas novas do que nas usadas (P<0,001) e nas primeiras camas em comparação com as segundas (P<0,05). Nenhum dos parâmetros de crescimento diferiu entre os tratamentos (P<0,05). Ainda que possam ocorrer condições de conforto térmico desfavoráveis aos animais, principalmente ...
ABSTRACT
O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do sistema de alojamento sobre o desempenho zootécnico, as características da carcaça, a qualidade da carne e a condição sanitária de suínos criados em seis diferentes sistemas. Foram usados 803 suínos mestiços MS58 x (Landrace x Large White) em sete lotes seqüenciais no tempo, avaliando as fases de creche e de crescimento-terminação. Na creche, foram avaliados três tipos de alojamento: confinado convencional (CO); cama sobreposta-(CS); e sistema intensivo de suínos criados ao ar livre (SISCAL). No crescimento-terminação, foram avaliados apenas dois tipos de alojamento (CO e CS), sendo o último subdividido em três substratos (palha de trigo-PT, casca de arroz-CA e serragem-SE). Para a análise estatística foi considerado no modelo os efeitos de lote, o tratamento (combinação de tipos de alojamento na creche e no crescimento-terminação), idade dos suínos (84, 105, 126, 147 e 160 dias) e a interação tratamento x idade. Suínos alojados no sistema CO apresentaram maior (P<0,05) ganho de peso diário (824 vs. 779g), maior peso de carcaça quente (75 vs. 69kg) e maior espessura de toucinho (18, vs. 17mm) do que os criados sobre cama todavia estes suínos apresentaram peso do conteúdo estomacal significativamente (P<0,05) maior (360 vs. 204g) e menor grau de lesão do estômago do que aqueles alojados em tratamento convencional, embora com maior prevalência de espirro. O sistema de alojamento não afetou os aspectos sanitários avaliados, contudo, suínos alojados em cama sobreposta no crescimento-terminação apresentaram desempenho e características de carcaça inferiores àqueles do sistema convencional, independentemente do sistema de alojamento utilizado na creche.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of housing system on live performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and the sanitary condition of pigs raised in six different systems. A total of 803 MS58 x (Landrace x Large White) hybrid type pigs was used in seven subsequent lots, during the nursery and growing-finishing phases. At the nursery period, the systems evaluated were: conventional (CO), deep litter (CS), and intensive free range (SISCAL), while during the growing-finishing phase only the CO and CS systems were evaluated, being the CS system subdivided into three substrates (wheat straw, rice hulls and wood shaving). The factors considered on the statistical analysis were lot, treatment (combination of housing type used during nursery and growing-finishing phases), age (84, 105, 126, 147 e 160 days), and the interaction treatment x age. A significant effect of housing type was observed on weight gain, carcass characteristics, and weight of heart, liver, full stomach and stomach content. Animals housed on conventional treatment had higher (P<0.05) weight gain (824 vs. 779g), higher hot carcass weight (75 vs. 69kg) and higher fat thickness (18 vs. 17mm) than the ones raised on deep litter, however, these, on the other hand, presented larger (P<0.05) gut content (360 vs. 204g) and less degree of gut lesion than those of the conventional treatment, eventhough with higher sneeze prevalence. The housing system did not influence the health, however pigs housed on deep litter system during the growing-finishing phase presented lower performance and carcass values than the ones housed in the conventional housing system despite the housing system used during the nursery phase.