Animal Welfare-friendly Pig Housing Systems

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
   1. Objectives
   2. Learning goals
2. Course content: Animal Welfare-friendly Pig Housing Systems
   1. Consumer awareness
   2. Legislation and enforcement
   3. Inventory of pork production systems
   4. Semi-natural conditions
   5. Selection of six pig production systems
   6. Farrowing sows
   7. Lactating sows and piglets
   8. Fattening pigs
   9. Gestating sows
   10. Boars
   11. Scientific reports
3. Completion
   1. Comments
   2. Self-assessment
   3. Key messages
   4. Further reading
   5. Evaluation

Fattening pigs

A conventional system with slatted floor

Note that one pig is tail-biting a littermate. This is an abnormal behaviour pattern which is found to be more common in barren environments than in stimulus rich environments. Video: Julie Ryschawy

The French standard system

Note that one pig is belly-nosing a littermate. This is an abnormal behaviour pattern which is found to be more common in barren environments than in stimulus rich environments. Video: Julie Ryschawy

Alternative French system II: Porc Basque

Fattening pigs kept outdoors. Note their rooting behaviour and how they use the mud for thermal regulation. Video: Julie Ryschawy.

Alternative Swedish system II: group-housing in deep litter

Fattening pigs kept in EU-ECO system. Video: Johani Karonen