Ergonomic evaluation of feeder design

Posted in: Prairie Swine Centre by admin on January 1, 1997 | No Comments

Five ergonomic studies were conducted using a feeder on which the lip height, feeder depth (front to back), width, and feeding shelf height could be adjusted. Pigs were tested at various weights from 22 to 96 kg. Stepping-into the feeder was more common as feeder depth was increased, but was also dependent upon the size of pig. Grower pigs stepped into a feeder with a depth of 20 cm, but large pigs did not do so until the depth was 30 cm or more. Lip height had only a minor influence of stepping-in. The appropriate feeder depth for each weight group of pig could be approximated by the distance from the toe of the pig to its snout when eating without a feeder lip. The feeder lip restricts access to the front of the feeding zone, particularly for small pigs. Pigs prefer to stand at an angle of approximately 30A?A? to the feed access, but in restrictive feeders will turn their heads to obtain an angled approach. Pigs also rotate their heads approximately 45 – 55A?A? while eating to improve access to the feed.

Ergonomic: is the study of the interaction of animals (or humans) with equipment

The role of the bovine practitioner in cattle welfare.

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Early weaning in swine: a behavioral review.

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Smart Ways to Control the Climate

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The lastest climate controls were displayed at Eurotier in 1996. The units are reliable, use less energy and have lower installation costs. Suppliers have heeded calls for ventilation equipment to be more cleanable and to have a system of emergency ventilation in each mechanically-ventilated house. Controls are by time, temperature or relative humidity, while the designers have aimed for limited water requirements and greater durability. In total 9 devices are summarized in the article.

Basic Options for Swine Production Enterprises

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Four basic options for swine production enterprises are described below. Characteristics of producers and swine operations that may fit each option are included.
:Operate as an independent
:Operate as an independent but “specialize”
:Operate as a contract producer
:Liquidate the operation
:Other options exist

Modelling Emissions

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For the development of odour emission model to study odour emission reduction, the chemical and physical properties of roughly 200 different gases that constitute odour from livestock production has to be better known. As for ammonia, the formation process, the diffusion and the transport in and out the livestock facility must be better understood and described. The process can be modeled by floor models, section models and airflow models. The section model is presented as being less known. This model attempt to sum up the diffusion coming from different areas or section of an animal house ( for example in a swine building with slatted floor: wet floor in animal area, back of the wet slatted floor, stored manure under the slats, wet side wall, wet and dirty animals). To be able use prediction ammonia emission models, more measurements have to be done and more knowledge of the emission processes have to be acquired.

Deep Litter Materials and the Ammonia Emissions in Fattening Pig Houses

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An appreciation of odour (as no measures are presented) showed that the sawdust bedding produced lower odour nuisance compared to straw litter and that the aerated litter also produced less odours. The pig performances showed no negative effect from the deep litter system. More work has to be done to find the optimum conditions for the good composting and nitrification and denitrification process that lower the NOx emissions as this system present advantages in reducing odour nuisance and improving the animal welfare.

Accuracy of a Windtunnel System for Measuring Ammonia Emissions after Slurry Application

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Outdoor trials have to be made to test the tunnel. The outdoor conditions have to be reproduced at the tunnel level to give significant results.

Problems arise when city meets county.

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The conflicts in Fraser Valley in British Columbia are becoming more frequent as many houses are built close to farms and the new neighbors come to the countryside for the scenery and don’t realize the nuisance associated with intensive agriculture (noise, smell, flies, dust). Approved environmental plan is needed when considering farm expansion. Concerns are directed toward manure management and also toward water supply as B.C. farmers have been blamed by Washington State for downstream contamination of the Abbotsford Aquifer.
Margaret Crowley, director of the policy development at B.C. Federation of agriculture mention that the agricultural code of practice and the province’s right-to-farm legislation will have to be considered as the municipalities have 3 years to make their bylaws conform to both. Local governments will be advised on farm practices by an agriculture advisory peer group already set up and the farmers facing complaints will be visited by this group to find solutions where needed.

Advisory peer groups is an interesting tool to help control the situation and find solutions with the farmers. Education is often the beginning of the solutions as the farmers and local governments have more tools and understanding in addressing the problems.

Design of a Large Flush Gutter Swine Finish Facility

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Flush gutters system have been designed for a facility of 8,000 finishing swine. The manure produced was land applied using a center pivot irrigation system around the surrounding land from a lagoon system that was collecting swine manure and also the rainfall runoff from the land surrounding. The publication presents the design concept of the facility.

No information is given on the amount of water needed per year and also on the nutrients management of the applied diluted slurry and the land surface needed considering the slurry produced. No information also is given on the disposal of the solid removal that probably accumulate at the bottom of the lagoon.