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Research article
Torun Wallgren
Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet Veterinarmedicin och husdjursvetenskap
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3205-2692
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: Straw is a beneficial enrichment material for pigs, shown to improve welfare and reduce abnormal behaviour such as tail biting. Straw has previously been identified as one of the means of how to raise pigs without tail docking, through improving natural exploratory behaviour. Straw has however been linked to poor pen hygiene, making farmers reluctant to use straw and has largely not been implemented in commercial farming. Straw is a beneficial enrichment material for pigs, shown to improve welfare and reduce abnormal behaviour such as tail biting. Straw has however been linked to poor pen hygiene, making farmers reluctant to use straw and has not been implemented in many commercial farming.
Results: This study investigates the impact of straw on pig and pen hygiene in partly slatted pens in three grower and four finishing pig batches on five commercial farms in Sweden which are providing straw daily. Each batch was divided into two treatments; Control: 50-600g straw/pen/day based on the farm normal straw ration; and Extra straw; (=doubled Control ration). The pens were scored based on cleanliness of the pigs, solid and slatted pen floor every second week. The pig and pen hygiene were mostly scored as clean in both treatments, overall around 1 % of the observations were considered dirty/soiled.
Conclusions: As very few pens or pigs were considered dirty, it was concluded that straw provision is possible without risking poor pig and pen hygiene. Few observations in this study were considered dirty regardless of amount of straw that was provided, and had likely to do with other factors in the production rather than straw ration. These results implicates that straw could be used in partly slatted pens in order to improve pig environment.
Keywords
Grower, finisher, fattening pig, enrichment
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at BMC Veterinary Research.
No community comments so far
Review #1 received
Received 14 Sep, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 21 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 21 Aug, 2020
Editor assigned
On 19 Aug, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 18 Aug, 2020
Editor invited
On 18 Aug, 2020
Version 1
Posted 01 Jun, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 04 Aug, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 29 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 15 Jul, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 24 Jun, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 07 Jun, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 05 Jun, 2020
Editor assigned
On 21 May, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 20 May, 2020
Editor invited
On 20 May, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Large Animal Medicine
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A new preprint design is coming!
We have improved readability, clarity, accessibility, and opportunities for engagement.
See the published version of this preprint at BMC Veterinary Research.
This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Torun Wallgren
Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet Veterinarmedicin och husdjursvetenskap
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3205-2692
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at BMC Veterinary Research.
No community comments so far
Review #1 received
Received 14 Sep, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 21 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 21 Aug, 2020
Editor assigned
On 19 Aug, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 18 Aug, 2020
Editor invited
On 18 Aug, 2020
Version 1
Posted 01 Jun, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 04 Aug, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 29 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 15 Jul, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 24 Jun, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 07 Jun, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 05 Jun, 2020
Editor assigned
On 21 May, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 20 May, 2020
Editor invited
On 20 May, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Large Animal Medicine
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published article at BMC Veterinary Research.
Background: Straw is a beneficial enrichment material for pigs, shown to improve welfare and reduce abnormal behaviour such as tail biting. Straw has previously been identified as one of the means of how to raise pigs without tail docking, through improving natural exploratory behaviour. Straw has however been linked to poor pen hygiene, making farmers reluctant to use straw and has largely not been implemented in commercial farming. Straw is a beneficial enrichment material for pigs, shown to improve welfare and reduce abnormal behaviour such as tail biting. Straw has however been linked to poor pen hygiene, making farmers reluctant to use straw and has not been implemented in many commercial farming.
Results: This study investigates the impact of straw on pig and pen hygiene in partly slatted pens in three grower and four finishing pig batches on five commercial farms in Sweden which are providing straw daily. Each batch was divided into two treatments; Control: 50-600g straw/pen/day based on the farm normal straw ration; and Extra straw; (=doubled Control ration). The pens were scored based on cleanliness of the pigs, solid and slatted pen floor every second week. The pig and pen hygiene were mostly scored as clean in both treatments, overall around 1 % of the observations were considered dirty/soiled.
Conclusions: As very few pens or pigs were considered dirty, it was concluded that straw provision is possible without risking poor pig and pen hygiene. Few observations in this study were considered dirty regardless of amount of straw that was provided, and had likely to do with other factors in the production rather than straw ration. These results implicates that straw could be used in partly slatted pens in order to improve pig environment.
Figure 1
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