Open AccessThe effects of different housing technologies on welfare of piglets in rearing
Author(s) -
B. Živković,
Čedomir Radović,
Ð. Okanović,
Vladislav Zekić
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
biotechnology in animal husbandry/biotechnology in animal husbandry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2217-7140
pISSN - 1450-9156
DOI - 10.2298/bah0702259z
Subject(s) - depreciation (economics) , animal husbandry , production (economics) , welfare , consumption (sociology) , agricultural science , animal welfare , business , zoology , toxicology , agricultural economics , economics , biology , economic growth , ecology , agriculture , market economy , social science , sociology , financial capital , capital formation , human capital , macroeconomics
During two consecutive years the effects of introduction of new technology i.e. boxes of new dimensions in rearing of piglets compared to conventional type of boxes, on animal welfare through production results were investigated and economical parameters relating to introduction of investigated technology in rearing piglets. Research was carried out on experimental pig farm of the Institute for Animal Husbandry, Belgrade-Zemun, Serbia. Obtained results demonstrated that introduction of new box, with 14 instead of 6 heads per box, influenced increase in gain by 7,9%, higher feed consumption by 6,7% and better feed conversion by 0,9% compared to production results in control group housed in conventional cages. In the structure of expenses, due to higher share of cost of material in total costs, also relative equal reduction of share of labour and depreciation costs for buildings and equipment, but also regardless of that, since cost of material is directly correlated to the production value, mentioned change can be characterized as positive, therefore by application of the new technology of piglet housing the amount of total cost decreased by over 7%, and in general total positive financial effect of 10,6% can be considered as very satisfactory. In general, obtained results showed that by application of new technology of piglet housing positive effects are achieved in regard to production and financial results, and also to welfare of this category of pigs.