The preliminary results indicate that suspending ropes in the pens reduces tail biting when it breaks out. This is shown by the fact that the number of tail injuries was apparently reduced during the first 14 days when rope was given. The reason is probably that the wounds were allowed to heal, and that there were no new tail injuries as the pigs directed their sucking and chewing behaviour towards the rope instead of towards other pigs.
The following checklist should be used if there is tail biting in the herd.
Quick intervention in case of outbreaks of tail biting
Have steps been taken to eliminate tail biting quickly?
Are tail-bitten pigs treated correctly?
Water supply
Are the nipple drinkers supplying the correct amount of water?
Is there a sufficient number of drinkers in each pen?
Feed
Does feed mixed on-farm segregate?
Is the colour of the manure in pens the same at both ends of the pipeline?
Is the pigs’ behaviour the same at each delivery of finished feed or of premix for feed mixed on-farm?
Pen design
Is the pen designed correctly with a lying area, an activity area and a dunging area?
Stocking density and number of feeding points
Are the space requirements met, so that overcrowding is avoided?
Are there enough feeding points compared with the number of pigs?
Transfer strategy and sorting
Is mixing of pigs between pens after transfer avoided?
Rooting and enrichment material
Do the pigs have permanent access to enrichment and rooting materials?
Is the material placed correctly?
Potential equalisation
Are the electrical installations in the housing unit at the electric switchboard main- equalized and connected to an earth rod?
Are the electric wirings in the housing unit equalised?
Regulation of temperature, climate and air quality
Does the housing temperature correspond to the age of the pigs and the design of the housing unit?
Is the pigs’ lying behaviour normal?
Does the air in the housing unit feel good?
Does the ventilation system work satisfactorily?
Are the pigs dunging where they are supposed to?
Is the bedding dry?
Are the slurry containers emptied?作者: 452100702 時(shí)間: 2010-8-5 10:26 回復(fù) 2#原來風(fēng)在跳舞