<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In the present study, postural behaviour was compared between gilts kept in service unit with different types of flooring during all seasons. The study included four 28-day production cycles and 10 gilts per cycle, equally divided into a control and an experimental group. Control gilts were housed in gestation stalls with slatted concrete floor, whereas in the experimental group the floor was covered with an adjusted rubber mat. Postural behaviour of gilts was observed 4 times per cycle for 4 hours. Study results showed that during cooler seasons, gilts in concrete stalls spent more time standing and lying sternally, whereas gilts in matted stalls were mostly lying, predominantly laterally (P&lt;0.001 all). There were no significant between group differences according to the time the gilts spent sitting or the frequency of changing posture in any season observed. Nevertheless, experimental animals spent significantly less time changing standing to both lying positions during all seasons (P&lt;0.01 all). In conclusion, rubber mats may improve lying comfort in gilts; however, when using rubber mats, the house thermal conditions should be taken in consideration.</p></abstract>

In the present study, postural behaviour was compared between gilts kept in service unit with different types of flooring during all seasons. The study included four 28-day production cycles and 10 gilts per cycle, equally divided into a control and an experimental group. Control gilts were housed in gestation stalls with slatted concrete floor, whereas in the experimental group the floor was covered with an adjusted rubber mat. Postural behaviour of gilts was observed 4 times per cycle for 4 hours. Study results showed that during cooler seasons, gilts in concrete stalls spent more time standing and lying sternally, whereas gilts in matted stalls were mostly lying, predominantly laterally (P<0.001 all). There were no significant between group differences according to the time the gilts spent sitting or the frequency of changing posture in any season observed. Nevertheless, experimental animals spent significantly less time changing standing to both lying positions during all seasons (P<0.01 all). In conclusion, rubber mats may improve lying comfort in gilts; however, when using rubber mats, the house thermal conditions should be taken in consideration.

Postural Behaviour in Gilts Housed on Concrete and Rubber Slats During four Seasons

Department of Animal Hygiene, Behaviour and Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Department of Animal Hygiene, Behaviour and Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia, Phone: +385 1 2390 294, Fax: +385 1 2441 390

Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agriculture, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University, Osijek, Croatia

Pavešić Veterinary Clinic, Krasica, Croatia

Animal Welfare Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Skopje, Macedonia

Macedonian Veterinary Review

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

In the present study, postural behaviour was compared between gilts kept in service unit with different types of flooring during all seasons. The study...

Postural Behaviour in Gilts Housed on Concrete and Rubber Slats During four Seasons

Published Online: Nov 18, 2015

Page range: 157 - 164

Received: May 05, 2014

Accepted: Aug 02, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14432/j.macvetrev.2014.08.020

Keywords
gilts, rubber mats, postural behaviour, welfare

© 2015

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Postural Behaviour in Gilts Housed on Concrete and Rubber Slats During four Seasons

Published Online: Nov 18, 2015

Page range: 157 - 164

Received: May 05, 2014

Accepted: Aug 02, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14432/j.macvetrev.2014.08.020

Keywordsgilts, rubber mats, postural behaviour, welfare

© 2015

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
gilts, rubber mats, postural behaviour, welfare