Abstract

CAMPINO-ESPINOSA, Gina P  and  OCAMPO-DURAN, Álvaro. Animal behaviour of growing-fattenign pigs in a deep bedding system using empty fruit brunches of oil palm elaeis guineensis jacq. Orinoquia [online]. 2010, vol.14, n.2, pp.147-159. ISSN 0121-3709.

Four treatments were evaluated using empty fruit brunches of oil palm (EFB) on a growing-finishing pig deep bedding system, using two animal densities (1,5 and 1,35 m²/animal) and two EFB densities as substrate for deep bedding (350 and 450 kg EFB/animal) to evaluate the animal behavior. The activities of each experimental group were registered daily at 08:00, 11:00 and 15:00 hours; as well the individual activities of 5 pigs per treatment. The animal behavior before and after the pigs reached 50kg life weight (growing and fattening phases) were determined. An effect of the animal density on the animal behavior of pigs was observed. The treatment with lower animal density (1.5 m²/animal) showed the highest both percentage of pigs eating during the feeding hours and resting pigs after fed. Pigs established three well differentiated areas of the deep bedding substrate: dirty area, humid area and resting area independently of animal density or substrate density. Additionally, the pigs established fed and resting areas. In conclusion, the deep bedding system using empty fruit branches of oil palm offers well animal welfare and allows pigs to determine favorable behavior during the growing-fattening phase.

Keywords : empty fruit branches; oil palm; deep bedding; animal welfare; growing-fattening pigs.

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