Ethological choice trials with early weaned piglets kept in flat decks. 2. Results of the 2d part of the studies of appropriate floors for animals
Marx, D.; Schuster, H.
Deutsche Tierärztliche Wochenschrift 89(8): 313-318
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0341-6593 PMID: 6751781 Document Number: 190490
Part II continues the observations reported in Part I [see VB 51, abst. 2089], and largely confirms them. In studies conducted with 16 groups, each of eight piglets weaned at 28 days, weighing 7.5 kg allowed a choice between two out of six different floor types, a plastic slatted floor was preferred to all others, with concrete slatted floor as the second choice. Perforated metal plate was the third choice, while iron slatted floor and a second type of plastic slatted floor were less chosen, and wire mesh was strongly avoided. The relationships between floor types, activity and behaviour, and foot lesions, are shown in graphs and a table.