Behavior of finishing pigs on different floor types

Abstract

Brazil is the fourth largest producer and exporter of pork in the world. There is a need to improve knowledge of animal welfare through animal behavioral analysis. The interference of different types of floors and periods of the day on the behavioral components of pigs in the final finishing phase was evaluated. The experiment was carried out in a swine farm located in the city of Missal/PR. The experimental design used was completely randomized (DIC), in a 2x2 factorial scheme, with six replications. The treatments were constituted by the combination of two types of flooring, one in a bay with a solid concrete floor and water depth (laminate flooring) and the other in a bay with a mixed floor with part solid concrete and part gridded cast concrete (grilled floor), tested in two periods of the day (morning period from 8h to 12h and afternoon period, from 13h to 17h). The observations were carried out for 3 weeks, in total there were six observations and 48 hours of footage. The observed animals had been housed for 80 days and were observed up to 108 days. The data will be obtained through recordings of the animals. Subsequently, posture behaviors were verified (standing, sitting or lying down); interaction with the environment (visit to the feeder and drinker); and social interactions (agonistic, interaction and exploratory); stereotyped (simulated chewing and chewing time), with the aid of an ethogram. Variables with data normality were evaluated using the F test in the analysis of variance (ANOVA). When significant in the ANOVA, the means of floor, period and the hierarchical effect of a factor given to another, were compared using Tukey's test. Variables without verification of data normality were analyzed using the Friedman test at the 5% level. It was verified that the type of floor and the different periods of the day influence the behavioral components of the pigs in the final finishing phase. The grilled floor presented better results, as the animals interacted more, even with the highest ambient temperature; however, as the pens with this floor were smaller (compared to those with laminate flooring), it was observed that the animals showed stereotyped behavior. The research using an Etogram helped to better understand the behavior of pigs observed on different floors and stalls.