Abstract
ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to describe the housing system in the hospital pens on growing and finishing (GF) pig farms. This work was developed by using a questionnaire and was conducted between January and April, 2016. Forty-four GF commercial farms (a total of 41,111 animals) were involved, seeking to raise issues concerning the facilities of the hospital pens, environment, management, feeding and the reasons for transferring the animals to these accommodations. About 98% of the evaluated farms [...]
Highlights
Hospital pens, or infirmary pens, are often used to facilitate the treatment of sick animals and separate them from those that are healthy (Fraser et al, 2013)
Two questions were proposed to enhance the discussion on this subject: Is there a standard for facilities and management of animals in hospital pens on farms that adopt the intensive production system? Are the facilities and management offered in these pens suitable for the recovery of animals? this study aimed to describe the housing system in hospital pens on growing and finishing (GF) pig farms, identifying their strengths and weaknesses
On all farms with one or more hospital pens, these pens were located in the same barn where healthy animals were housed
Summary
Infirmary pens, are often used to facilitate the treatment of sick animals and separate them from those that are healthy (Fraser et al, 2013). In these pens, pigs are able to recover without competing with healthy animals for water, food, or rest areas (Pineiro et al, 2014). In Brazil, it is recommended that hospital pens be distant or attached to the barn of healthy animals, but with an independent circulation area (Morés, 2006). In Brazilian pig farms that only develop the growing and finishing (GF) phases, hospital pens are routinely observed inside the barn. There is no consistent information about how sick pigs are being housed and managed in practice
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