FFL-JA-Forskningsmidlene for jordbruk og matindustri

In Norway, the sow welfare and piglet production have received more attention than the needs of the fattening pig. The project participants, together with NMBU, wanted to change this. The aim was to acquire knowledge and develop tools that improve the welfare of the fatting pig. The main objective of the research was to survey the welfare and production of Norwegian fattening pigs with emphasis on social environment in the form of animal density and group size, routines for litter and rooting material, pen design, and air quality. Factors related to housing conditions were also registered. We wanted to create an efficient and user-friendly welfare protocol that could be digitalized. It was also an aim to shed light on the importance of the welfare level of the fattening pig for meat quality. Three controlled trials were carried out, as well as a field survey in 87 herds in 4 different parts of the country. Data was also collected at slaughterhouses. Results showed a welfare benefit in the form of fewer pigs with bite injuries, including tail wounds, by increasing the group size provided that the floor area per animal is constant. In the experiment, a lower proportion of pigs with straight tails placed between the legs was observed, which suggests fewer pigs with a negative emotional state in larger groups. In contrast, we found that fear of novel people increased with increased group size. This can be explained by the fact that each pig receives less human attention in larger groups than in small ones, but also that they have a greater opportunity to seek distance when the total area increases. Growth and feed efficiency, were somewhat reduced with increased group size in the field survey, but in the experiment that compared groups of 18 pigs with groups of 9 pigs in traditional pens, we found no difference in growth or feed efficiency between the groups. Considering animal density per pig, we found that the proportion of pigs per pen with bite marks decreased with increased floor area, and specifically that an increase in floor area from 1.0 to 1.5 m2 resulted in a welfare improvement, especially from the middle of the fattening period. We also found a higher proportion of wagging pigs and a lower proportion with a straight tail placed between the legs were when they were housed at 1.5 m2 compared to 1.0 m2 per pig. Floor area per pig had no effect on the incidence of hernias or mobility problems. We found that if the proportion of pigs per pen with mobility problems or hernias was high, there were also more pigs with tail bite marks in these pens. With a high proportion of tail bite marks, the mean daily weight gain was also lower. Stocking density had no clear effect on production results such as daily weight gain or feed efficiency. The two outdoor pig herds had the best welfare results, as no bite marks were found on ears or tails, there were no hernias or mobility problems among 270-300 pigs altogether at each location. Bite marks were nevertheless recorded on the body, probably due to some competition around the concentrated feed dispenser and to gain access to sleeping huts with straw. The farms with straw bedding were in second place in terms welfare scoring, but in these farms, there was a higher ammonia content, among others because added straw was too little compared to number of animals in the pens. For the more traditional pens, we found that all aspects of welfare were improved by using so much litter that it covered the concrete floor in the resting area. In addition to a large amount of litter on the resting area, access to straw, newspaper, silage and hay reduced the occurrence of bite marks. Access to hay combined with plenty of bedding in the lying area reduced the incidence of tail bite marks, but in general allocation of different materials was more stimulating for the pig than just one material being offered. There is also an advantage with at least 2 provisions per day. A rotation of different materials and straw as a single material triggered the pig's interest the most over time. To achieve clean pigs and clean floors, it was optimal to have open partitions at slatted floors, that the slatted floor was placed next to an outer wall, that there was a full coverage amount of litter on the lying area and that they were provided with rooting material several times a day. Furthermore, cleanliness improved with increasing slatted floor area and sleeping area. The ammonia content in the pens is also lower if the slatted floor is placed against the outer wall. The ammonia content increased with increasing lying area and decreased with increasing slatted floor area. Lower temperatures than 20 oC and relatively low air speed made the pigs and pens stay clean. Regarding meat quality, a longer transport time and time spent waiting at the slaughterhouse, were associated with more pale meat. Fewer bite marks also strengthened the red color of the meat compared to pigs with many bite marks.

Prosjektet har gitt verdifull innsikt i, og dokumentasjon av, praktiske forhold som påvirker velferden til slaktegris i eksisterende driftssystemer. Kunnskapen har betydning for å kunne utvikle svinebondens kompetanse og forutsetninger for å bedre dyrevelferd til slaktegrisen. Velferdsprotokollen som er utarbeidet, og brukt, i prosjektet er allerede tatt i bruk i nye prosjekt. Protokollen er et lett tilgjengelige verktøy for at både rådgivere og bønder kan dokumentere velferdsstatus og utviklingen av denne. For de involverte bedriftene har kunnskapsgrunnlaget fra prosjektet bidratt til å støtte opp under tydeligere, kvalitetssikret rådgivning til bonden. Videre har prosjektet gitt bedriftene et fremtidig utgangspunkt for utvikling av løsninger og/eller produkter som i større grad kan hensynta eller vektlegge tilpasninger som styrker grisevelferden, enten det handler om utforming av bygg og innredning for grisen, eller svinekjøttkonsepter som kan imøtekomme forbrukerønsker om økt grisevelferd. Innsiktene fra prosjektet er også av verdi for myndighetenes arbeid med regelverksutvikling av kravene til velferd for gris. De norske regelverkskravene til hold av svin er strengere enn mange andre land. Kunnskapsgrunnlaget fra prosjektet vil støtte opp under at norsk krav til dyrevelferd fortsatt vil holde en høy standard i internasjonal sammenheng.

I Norge har det foreløpig vært større fokus på smågrisproduksjonen og purkenes velferd enn slaktegrisens behov. Dette ønsker vi å gjøre noe med i Griseløftet. I prosjektet vil fire sentrale virksomheter knyttet til ulike deler av verdikjeden for svin (Nortura, Felleskjøpet Fôrutvikling, Norsvin R&D, Fjøssystemer), sammen med FoU-partner NMBU, samarbeide om å utvikle praktiske løsninger og tiltak for økt slaktegrisevelferd, inkludert løsninger for å dokumentere effekten av disse. Til sammen vil vi legge grunnlaget for videreutvikling av svinekjøtt-kategorien og økt verdiskapning. Viktige FoU-utfordringer i prosjektet er: • Hvilke individbaserte velferdsindikatorer er egnet i praktisk rettede protokoller til bruk for bonde, rådgivere og avlskonsulenter? • Hvordan er sammenhengene mellom registrerte velferdsindikatorer og velferdsnivå i hele besetningen? • Hvordan kan digitale løsninger best utformes og brukes for å oppnå gode registreringer? Hvordan kan digitale registeringer også utnyttes til å bli et verktøy som rådgir bonden direkte om forbedringer som bør gjennomføres? • Hva slags sammenhenger er det mellom miljøfaktorer, miljøberikelse og kjøttkvalitet hos slaktegris under norske produksjonsbetingelser • Hvordan virker ulike kombinasjoner av og typer rotemateriale (miljøberikelse) på norsk slaktegris? • Hvilke miljøkriterier hos sped- og smågris er vesentlige for velferd og produksjon hos slaktegrisen? Prosjektresultatene vil også bidra til kunne bygge et bredere mangfold i svinekjøttkategorien og med dette kunne tilby markedet produkter med kvaliteter som gir økte merverdier, bedre inntjeningsgrunnlag og totalt sett verdiheving i svinekjøttkategorien.