Thermal comfort assessment in a typological non-isolated maternity pig sheds with different types of farrowing systems

J.A. Osorio S¹*, V. González², P.F.P. Ferraz³, G.A.S. Ferraz³ and F.A. Damasceno⁴

¹Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Departamento de Ingeniería Agrícola y de
Alimentos, Medellín campus, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Carrera 65 #59A-110, Postal code 050034 Medellín, Colombia
²Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Departamento de producción Animal, Medellín campus, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Grupo de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Genética Molecular (BIOGEM), Carrera 65 #59A-110, Postal code 050034 Medellín, Colombia
³Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Department of Agricultural Engineering, Campus Universitário, PO Box 3037, CEP 37200-000 Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
⁴Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Department of Engineering, Lavras, Câmpus Universitário, Caixa Postal 3037, CEP 37200-000 • Lavras/MG
*Correspondence: aosorio@unal.edu.co

Abstract:

Swine facilities in tropical climates, especially the maternity, have worked with typological systems that have been little studied to determine the influence of the type of farrowing on microenvironmental conditions and its effect on both the sows and the piglets’ physiological parameters. Therefore, the aim of the research was evaluate the thermal environment (Temperature Humidity Index – THI and Radiant Thermal Load – RTL) and its influence on some physiological parameters (respiratory frequency – RF and rectal temperature – TRectal) in the sows and piglets in two different types of farrowing systems (Traditional and Slatted), in a typological swine facility located in tropical climates in Colombia. The findings showed that in the two systems, both for sows and piglets, the type of farrowing system did not generate significant differences in the physiological responses RF and TRectal. Also, the RTL did not show significant differences in the two types of farrowing system at the piglets and the sows’ level, without exceeding the maximum allowed levels. Temperature-Humidity Index was above the threshold during all experimental time, being slightly higher at the piglets’ level with Slatted systems. These results show that the type of floor has little impact on the conditions of animal thermal comfort at the sows and piglets’ level. However, variables like low-temperature, low radiant energy exchange, and high humidity, which were found mainly at the piglets’ level, could have the highest incidence for not achieving a suitable microenvironment. This means that almost all Colombian pig farming facilities require a redesign of their farrowing system to guarantee better thermal conditions for both piglets and sows.

Key words:

comfort Index, farrowing systems, swine facility, tropical country

Approach to a classification of construction typologies of pig facilities: case study Antioquia – Colombia

N. Castrillón²³*, V. Gonzalez¹³ and J.A. Osorio¹

¹Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Medellín, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Carrera 65 #59A-110, Código postal 050034 Medellín, Colombia
²Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Medellín, Facultad de Minas, AV 80 #65-223, Código postal 050034 Medellín, Colombia
³Grupo de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Genética Molecular (BIOGEM), Departamento de Producción Animal, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Medellín, Carrera 65 No. 59 A-110, Código postal 050034, Colombia
*Correspondence: ncastrillon@unal.edu.co

Abstract:

Pig facilities foro confined production in tropical countries such as Colombia does not specify, in the present moment a typological classification that allows researchers to carry out evaluations related to animal comfort and environmental impacts according to the type of accommodation. To achieve the objective of this research were developed a survey to a panel of experts, a decision sensitivity analysis and the hierarchical analytical method AHP. Parameters that allowed to describe the concept of a technified pig farm were obteined, where the most relevant were: biosecurity measures, measurement of zootechnical parameters, training for workers and legal fulfilment. Additionally, ranges were defined to establish the production size in small, medium and large according to the number of animals. The results obtained per group were: 1) breeding small (50–200), medium (201–1,000) and large (1,001–5,000); 2) growth small (60–200), medium (201–800) and large (801–5000); and 3) finishing stage small (50–500), medium (501–1,000) and large (2,001–5,000). A total of 948 typological combinations were initially determined. Finally, the construction characteristics with the greatest technical and operational feasibility were prioritized for each group achieving 36 typologies that can represent the typological pig facilities not only in the state of Antioquia but also in many others states in Colombia.

Key words: