Evaluate the influence of the layout of growing-finishing units for large groups


Status:
Completed

Power Point Presentation (in French)
Fact sheet (in French)
Final report (in French)
 

Expertise:
Building and livestock management

Aim / objectives:
Evaluate the influence that the layout of growing-finishing units for large groups has on animal performance and behaviour.
  • Evaluate animal performance according to the proposed ‘large group’ layout as well as to conventional pen layouts;
  • Evaluate the behavior of the pigs according to the proposed layout (4):
    • a) Develop an automated imaging tool for the real-time assessment of the occupancy of different unit areas according to different parameters (environmental conditions, animal weight, season, type of floor, etc.);
    • b) Compare the number of times the pigs passed over the scale according to each layout;
    • c) Compare the feeding behavior of the pigs according to each layout;
    • d) Compare pig learning time according to each layout.
  • Carry out an economic and objective assessment (advantages and disadvantages) of raising pigs in large groups vs conventional pen layout.

Collaborators:
Denis Boulanger, Centre en imagerie numérique et médias interactifs (CIMMI); Mario Massicotte, producer; Éric Fortin and Serge Couture, Monitrol.
Funding Partners:

Project Manager:
Sébastien Turcotte
CDPQ Team:
Jean-Gabriel Turgeon, Richard Mailhot and Patrick Gagnon