Summary

Crowding affects the productivity of grow/finish pigs and it is generally believed that floor types differ in required space. This study was designed to determine if there is a significant interaction between the two factors. Crowding resulted in a reduction in ADG, but the type of flooring did not make a difference.

Introduction

Floor space allowance remains one of the more contentious issues in the debate on modern farm practices and animal welfare. It is generally believed that space requirements for maximum growth will vary with housing conditions. The Code of Practice recommends that pigs on partially slatted floors be provided with more total floor area than those on fully slatted floors. However, some research has suggested that there are no differences in the effect of crowding on these two floor types. This study was conducted to gain a better understanding of space required for pigs housed on either fully or partially slatted floors.