Animal wlefare is a term used in relation to the relationship between man and animal, the protection of animals against torture and the protection of animal health. Animal welfare covers physical and mental health and various aspects, such as physical comfort, absence of hunger and thirst, the ability to express motivated behavior, etc., which people usually attach to a different level of importance. Due to the welfare measure and the lack of animal welfare research, the first evaluation of the welfare of pigs was carried out under CRP V4-1604. The purpose of the project was to assess the welfare of Slovenian pig breeds based on the international Welfare Quality Assessment Protocol for Pigs (WQ®) assessment and to prepare a simpler protocol suitable for the Slovenian situation, and Will enable breeders to assess the welfare and take the necessary measures.
F.35 Other
COBISS.SI-ID: 4142216Animal welfare is the premise of modern livestock farming and is closely linked to farming systems and conditions of livestock, which consumers are increasingly paying attention when deciding on the purchase of products. By improving the welfare, fewer injuries and illnesses are expected, with fewer treatments, better productivity and better quality of animal products. In the article we present the results of the experiment in which we are the classic method of breeding, where the individual pigs, together with piglets, were housed in individual pits, compared with group boxy, where piglets of different nests can pass between boxy (partial simulation of natural conditions - only piglets, but not sows).
F.35 Other
COBISS.SI-ID: 4158344Sustainable development, which includes environmental and climatic conditions, and an emphasis on animal welfare, has been gaining an increased importance in the development of agriculturelivestock production in Europe. At the same time the consumers, when deciding to purchase animal products, pay more and more attention to the housing conditions farm animals were exposed to. Different rearing conditions in conventional or alternative systems, especially in group housed animals, affect differently the development of behavior abnormalities such as cannibalism in laying hens and pigs, as well as the onset of dermatitis in broilers and general welfare. There is no legislation (laws or directives) available in Slovenia to ensure the welfare of animals in various housing systems of poultry and pigs. Therefore, in this project we will test the protocols and indicators as a non-invasive way to assess the welfare of poultry and pigs, and establish critical limits of animal welfare, including health care, with emphasis on an individual animal. With this we will make the first scientific assessment of the welfare of poultry and pigs in conventional and alternative housing systems in Slovenia and get the first detailed insight into the state of welfare on the commercial farms. Also, individual housing systems will be described the first time in terms of animal welfare, which will enable housing systems and the corresponding animal products to be better recognized. Furthermore, the project will test innovative approaches to reduce cannibalism as the use of repellents in laying hens and by testing different ways of creating groups of pigs after weaning. At the same time, we will monitor indicators of stress, such as biomarkers of oxidative stress in the blood and saliva of pigs and the concentration of corticosterone and immunoglobulins feathers and eggs in laying hens or broilers. As for laying hens in practice, in addition to cannibalism, keel bone damage represents a big welfare problem, so one of the project key objectives will include the monitoring thereof in the various housing systems. We will also prepare recommendations on the possibilities of their prevention. The last, but not the least key objective of the project is an interdisciplinary approach to investigate the problem of welfare including health care of poultry and pigs. The project will consist of the three scientific organizations from two different universities in Slovenia that will closely work with the industry. Together we want to introduce technological innovations that will allow the animal-friendly rearing conditions and provide safer food for consumers.
D.06 Final report on a foreign/international project
COBISS.SI-ID: 4139912Social interaction through play is an important indicator of animal welfare and when the basic needs of the animals are met, the piglets start with the activity. Studies have found that an increased frequency of the playful activities help to increase the rediness of the animals for stressful situations (for example at the time of weaning). Performing play it teaches the piglets skills such as perseverance. It also aides the piglets development of their physical strength, significant increases in growth and decreases in aggression. The aim of our study was to determine the structure of the social behaviour of piglets during lactation where piglets have the opportunity to move freely between the three farrowing pens. We also determined the frequency of piglets play. The pens were set up with survaillance and we extracted the results by reviewing the footage. We observed piglets from three farrowing pens, which were individually marked for ease of identification. We followed a social play, object play and locomotor play. Also the number of passages between the pens, and the number of piglets in the implementation of particular behavioural patterns were scored. The results showed that the frequency of behaviours increased in the first three weeks, but decreased in the last week of lactacion. The behaviours that were most frequent were the passages made between pens (n=152.4) and running here and there (n=44.3). This greatly influences psychological and physical readiness for continued breeding and resulting in smaller losses. It is assumed that the method of housing, as presented in this study, could contribute to the more frequent expression of the social activites and the potential for less aggression weaning.
D.10 Educational activities
COBISS.SI-ID: 3964296The use of natural additives in animal feed has been increasingly emphasized due to consumers because their attitude towards food has been changing, the importance of quality has increasingly been making to the forefront. The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the effect of the additive Farmatan BCO in the feed of Prelux-G breed of laying hens, so that by observing the animals we determined the behaviour, assessed the animal's welfare, and followed its productivity. In the experiment, we had six sections, each of them containing six hens. In three sections, feed without any additives was uses and a different number of beds was set to each section. It was done the same in the remaining three sections, except that hens were fed by fodder containing the addition of Farmatan BCO. We monitored the laying, physical parameters of eggs, feed consumption, body weight of hens, their selection of beds and behaviour between the 23rd and the 34th week of breeding. We have concluded that the addition of Farmatan BCO partly influences the observed parameters, but to a lesser extent in order to claim that it is the cause of the presence of tannin, but a combination of both effects.
D.10 Educational activities
COBISS.SI-ID: 4481836