Ad libitum feeding of sows with whole crop maize silage—Effects on slurry parameters, technology and floor pollution
2020
Ebertz, Peter | Schmithausen, Alexander J. | Büscher, Wolfgang
The advantages of ad libitum feeding of sows with diets rich in crude fibre on reduced stereotypies and improved saturation are well known. Less well known are the consequences of such feeding on the resulting amount of slurry and pollution of the pen floor area, which are the objectives of the present study. During a 40-day trial, 20 sows were fed ad libitum with a diet rich in crude fibre, based on maize silage (MS trial). Compared to the restricted control feeding (CON trial), there was 1.6 times more slurry, and the slurry quality differed. The reduced dry matter content in the MS trial caused more smeared slots in the slatted floor, and the increased excrements produced poor floor cleanliness in comparison to the CON trial. Thus, animals in the MS trial were quieter and fully occupied, indicating an improvement in animal welfare but it was also worsened, due to the higher level of floor pollution relative to the CON trial. Besides, the farm-related environment is affected by the increased amount of feed and consequent tying-up of resources, as well as by the amplification of produced excrements that in turn must be stored and spread over sufficient available arable land.
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