Abstract
A study was carried out using 32 pigs to evaluate the effects of partially slotted floor (PSF) and shallow pool (SP) pens on animal behavior. In the PSF pens, the narrow channel was covered by slotted wood. In the SP pens had a narrow channel (0.8 x 2.0 m) ±10 cm deep, which was kept with streaming water. Behavioral observations were taken by snapshots every 10 minutes, for 24 hours, on six different days, resulting in 864 observations per pig. Observations were grouped in three periods (morning, afternoon and night). The afternoon period registered the highest temperature, 24.8 ± 3.2oC. Less hostile behavior was detected in pigs kept in SP pens. Behaviors of walking and exploring the facilities were more frequent in SP pens during the afternoon, which suggests benefits of SP for higher temperature times. Pigs on PSF showed decreasing feed intake during times of heat-induced stress as compared to those in SP pens. However, their feed intake increased in times of neutral temperature, resulting in ultimate similar feed intake for both types of pens. Results suggest an acclimatization by the pigs, leading them to consume the same amount of feed in both pens, nullifying any benefit of using shallow pool pens.
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