Welfare and housing in animal production: air quality evaluation and new experimental device in different species

The research has been divided into two step: the first one concerning the evaluation of ventilation in cattle and broilers houses, the second one concerning the study of a new experimental device for pigs breeding. Ventilation flow in livestock buildings can determine the indoor climate and air quality and so it affects directly the welfare of the reared animals. The realization of the animal houses in many cases, has not allowed the correct activation of the plants caused by the objective difficulty of testing and the absence of regulations with fixed numerical parameters. Studies were carried out in a typical dairy farm and in a broiler house in Molise region (central Italy). It was set up a control procedure and the planning of the ventilation using the measured carbon dioxide concentration in animal houses as basis for estimation of ventilation flow (as the ventilation flow is a key parameter of aerial emissions from animal houses). In dairy farm, after the evaluation of the air quality trough the analysis of temperature, humidity and CO2 production, it was installed a fan to improve ventilation rates and air quality and then we evaluated climate conditions by mean of temperature distribution in space and time and carbon dioxide in two given points inside the building in order to highlight not so good air mixing and renewing. In the experimental study carried out in poultry house different configurations of the ventilation system were tested to find the optimum ventilation system to improve the rearing conditions in broiler house. In broilers breeding the contact with gaseous emissions produced by different factors is continuous, so it is necessary an appropriate ventilation in order to discharge them. Climate conditions were evaluated by mean of temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide concentration. During experimental trials the tested different configurations of the ventilation system showed a little influence on CO2 average concentration and an irregular distribution was detected due to a wrong activation of the fans in the ventilation system. A more homogeneous condition of temperature and R.H. in the farm could be reached working on smoother ventilation and testing the cooling The optimization of the ventilation system could be done changing the ON-OFF working with the VFD working. The VFD system, thanks to the opportunity to control the speed, guarantees a better ventilation control and a higher energy saving. Experimental device for pigs breeding Many studies have indicated the large effect that good vs. poor handling and housing systems can have on pig physiology, behavior, and pork quality. Ease of routine moving and handling of pigs can affect the final outcome of meat quality and overall welfare of pigs. Despite the need for pork producers to move large numbers of farm animals, little is published about how best to move animals based on scientific evaluations. The broad objective of this case study was to evaluate the efficacy of a new moving devices for pigs. Considering the animal well-being concept and the rules that regulate it, the ethology and the behavior of pigs, it was investigated a “more appropriate” handling method, both from the ethological and operative point of view; it was planned and assembled a new tool, to be used inside the pens, to support the pigs during the handling and transfer procedures limiting the stress phenomena. The use of the tool during the trial showed a positive effect on the time requested by pigs to go out of pens; in fact, when the tool was used fewer stops were observed. Moreover, the tool requires the presence of one worker only in order to move the animals. Consequently, the animals are calmer and no squirrels/vocalizations have been recorded during the experimentation; that is why they did not require of any external stimuli for going on and, additionally, they were less dangerous for workers also. Finally, the need of one worker only is an important factor even for the economic efficiency.