care and housing

location

• align to minimise spread by wind borne disease

• avoid entry of run off water from sloping ground

• avoid urban settings

• good road access

design and construction

• avoiding cold floors: under floor bedding, under floor insulation, adequate bedding

• slatted floors:should be matched to animals, fully not for breeding, not sharp

ventilation

• for sheds with low roofs, fan assisted ventilation is more effective

• different ventilation systems produce different heat gradients

• shed temperature can be regulated by thermostatically controlled fan speed or inlet/aperture size

• pattern of air flow from inlet can differ between summer and winter

• reversed ventilation gives a more even flow of air as opposed to conventional

• positive pressured filtered air has lowest risk of airborne pathogen entry into the shed

risk of overcrowding

• faecal soiling

• foot disorder

• poor air quality and respiratory disease

• overheating during hot weather

• competition for lying area and feeding/drinking space

types of ventilation

• natural

• positive pressure- forcing air in with a fan

• negative- extracting with a fan

• ducted- duct through which air is delivered, air can be heated or filtered

why is lighting important? poultry

• can be used to control alarm behaviour, aggression and cannibalism

• can influence behaviour and help prevent leg disorders

• can influence feeding patterns

• influences age at onset of lay

• makes inspection of birds easier

factors affecting feeder and trough design

• reach of animal

• ways in which feed is wasted

• competition

• delivery method

• limiting intake

different bedding materials

• straw

• sawdust

• wood chip and shavings

• sand

what is ventilation used to control

• temp

• humidity

• transfer of air borne pathogens

• air quality (ammonia, dust, hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide)

water

• water meter indicator for poultry

• useful for administering drugs and vaccines

• water pipes and troughs can harbour biofilms- high pressure filters and hydrogen peroxide pumps

• cup and trough drinkers need regular cleaning

• 16-18 degrees

control odour

• aerating slurry

• direct incorporating manure or slurry instead of spreading onto surface

• covering source of smell

control of dust

• adding oil to feed

• using dust free bedding

• air filtration or misting

ammonia emissions control

• reducing protein content of the feed

• storing manure in tanks, lagoons or clamps, that have a small surface area

• prompt separation and separation of urine

other environmental problems

methane emissions,

washings, effluent

attract pests

problems associated with dirty floors

• slurry heel

• interdigital dermatitis

• mastitis

• foot pad dermatitis

• hockburn

problems associated with inappropriate floor surfaces

• white line separation

• torn claws

• sole bruising

• slips and falls

problems associated with poor ventilation

• respiratory disease

• damp bedding

• excessive dust

• ammonia

feeders and troughs

• leaking drinkers

• fighting at feeders

• fouled water

• drinker height

outdoor pig housing

• round arcs relatively inexpensive

• square huts more prone to moving during strong winds

• a frames and half a frames have escape areas for piglets

• half a frames likely to be warmer in winter

• barrell arcs cooler in summer

• sow rails reduce crushing

• too much straw increases piglet crushing

• slightly raised bedding increases access of lower row of teats

• creep rails increase the safety zone

• fender stops piglets wandering and getting lost

• stepped entrance allows piglet to get back into the hut

how to control straw getting wet?

• replacement

• using plywood

• built in floor

• but built in floors make the hut less manouverable, harder to remove dead sows, floor repair is required

shelter

• if 0 zone of protection is too small

• with too high porosity wind is funelled downwards providing limited protection