The effects of floor wetting on established dunging patterns

Abstract

Dried dung is a major source of both gaseous and particulate airborne pollutants in pig sheds. Hence controlling the generation of pollutants at its source by reducing faecal contamination of pen floors will greatly improve environmental quality in piggery buildings. The positive effects of improved air quality on production efficiency, animal welfare and human health is well documented (Donham et al. 1989). A previous study suggested that the wet pen floors will have a negative effect on the establishment of correct dunging patterns in newly stocked pig pens (Banhazi, 2002, unpublished). As a continuation of that previous study, the effects of a wet pen floor on established dunging pattern was investigated. An experiment was conducted to artificially induce poor dunging patterns in pens with established good dunging pattern, by wetting the pen floors daily.