Effect of housing system, litter versus totally slatted floor, on mass balances of water, nitrogen, and phosphorus in growing-finishing pigs

摘要

The two objectives of this study were first to check the feasibility of continuous composting with saw dust litter, and second to compare the mass balances of both systems (pig-on-litter versus slatted floor). Two replicates of 24 pigs each were used in the experiment. The same climate was maintained in both systems (pig-on- litter versus slatted floor). The amounts of food and water consumed, and the slurry produced were weighed, and their contents in H_2O, N, and P were determined. The air flow rate and the air concentrations of H_2O, NH_3, and N_2O were also measured continuously. The composting process in the litter system volatilised almost 70% of N excreted as N_2, whereas with slatted floor most of N volatilised was lost as NH_3. It is concluded from water and nitrogen mass balances that the pig-on-litter system allows an efficient and environment friendly production of pigs.