The objective was to devise a simulation model that could economically compare two group-housing systems for sow operations, a conventional system (CONV) that uses partial-slatted concrete flooring and an alternative system (ALT) that uses straw-covered concrete. Further, the research aimed to determine the optimal parity in which to terminally cull sows. Data were collected on 121 sows between two experimental barns for 7 parities. These data were used to estimate a production function and a culling function. These functions, along with economic data, were used to create an economic simulation model. Production was best predicted by parity and lactation feed intake, and culling was best predicted by parity, weight, and gait score. Optimal terminal culling occurred after parity 6 in ALT and after parity 7 in CONV. Overall, ALT was more profitable than CONV.

The objective was to devise a simulation model that could economically compare two group-housing systems for sow operations, a conventional system (CONV) that uses partial-slatted concrete flooring and an alternative system (ALT) that uses straw-covered concrete. Further, the research aimed to determine the optimal parity in which to terminally cull sows. Data were collected on 121 sows between two experimental barns for 7 parities. These data were used to estimate a production function and a culling function. These functions, along with economic data, were used to create an economic simulation model. Production was best predicted by parity and lactation feed intake, and culling was best predicted by parity, weight, and gait score. Optimal terminal culling occurred after parity 6 in ALT and after parity 7 in CONV. Overall, ALT was more profitable than CONV.

No description available.

The concern for restricted movement for sows housed in stalls during gestation has prompted the swine industry to move towards group housing. Additionally, the emphasis on increasing sow productivity has led to a continuous need for re-evaluation of nutrient requirements for sows, including minerals. Unfortunately, the majority of studies that examined the role of dietary Ca and P for sows were older (early 1970s to 1990s), and may not be applicable to the modern, prolific sow, particularly those housed in group housing systems. Two studies were conducted to determine the effects of dietary Ca and P for gestating sows on reproductive performance, bone metabolism and fetal skeletal development. The objective of the first study was to determine if the recommended levels of dietary Ca and P are adequate for sows housed in groups, and thus have potential for increased mobility. A total of 180 multiparous sows and gilts were assigned to 1 of 6 treatments. Treatments, arranged as a 3 × 2 factorial, included main effects of dietary Ca:P; 0.70:0.55 (% as fed, Control); 0.60:0.47 (-15 % 1998 NRC); 0.81:0.63 (+ 15 % 1998 NRC) and housing; stalls or groups. Sows were fed 2.3 kg/d from wk 4 to 5 of gestation until 2 wk prior to farrowing when the allotment was increased to 3.0 kg/d. Serum samples were collected at the start of the trial and on d 100 of gestation, and both serum and milk samples were collected at mid-lactation and prior to weaning. Neither diet nor housing had an effect on total number of piglets born, ADG from birth to weaning, or weaning weight (P > 0.10). The number of piglets born live and birth weight were unaffected by diet (P > 0.10) but improved in group housing relative to stalls (P < 0.05). In late gestation, group-housed sows fed the low Ca diet had reduced serum Ca (diet × housing interaction; P = 0.02) and the greatest reduction in serum P level was also observed in group-housed sows fed the low Ca diet (diet × housing interaction; P = 0.04). Osteocalcin (OC), and pyridinoline (PYD) markers of bone formation and resorption respectively, were unaffected by diet or housing (P > 0.10). The second study was conducted to determine the influence of Ca and P intake by young, gestating sows on the growth and skeletal development of their developing piglets and if smaller birth-weight piglets are at greater risk from mineral insufficiency during gestation. A total of 30 sows were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 dietary Ca:P treatments used in the first study. Sows were fed their daily rations in 1 allotment as described in Exp. 1. Only sows farrowing litters with 12 piglets or more remained on trial. At birth, the smallest and a normal-sized piglet from each litter were euthanized, and the left femur extracted for peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) scanning. Serum samples were collected at birth and prior to weaning. Number of piglets born, body weight (BW) at 3 d of age, and piglet ADG were unaffected by treatment (P > 0.10). At birth, the highest serum Ca level was seen in the small piglets from sows fed a high Ca diet (diet × size interaction; P = 0.04) however, at weaning, this value had the smallest deviation from the initial value (diet × size interaction; P = 0.02). Femurs of piglets from sows fed the low Ca diet had the highest cortical density (P = 0.03) and piglet size had no effect on cortical density (P > 0.10). Bone ash %, ash Ca %, ash P %, and serum bone markers were unaffected by diet or piglet size (P > 0.10). Results from these studies suggest that the recommended level of dietary Ca and P as prescribed by NRC 1998, and thus for NRC 2012, is adequate for high-producing sows of modern genetics, whether housed in stalls or groups. Moderate changes in Ca and P intake by young, gestating sows, does not negatively affect the growth or skeletal development of their piglets.

Les noves directives de la UE sobre la protecció dels porcs (Sus scrofa) fan necessari el desenvolupament de sistemes d'allotjament en grup apropiats des del punt de vista del benestar i de la productivitat. L'objectiu general d'aquest estudi fou la comparació entre dos sistemes comercials d'allotjament en grup i les gàbies convencionals per a truges gestants, mitjançant mesures de comportament, fisiològiques i productives. Cent vuitanta truges gestants, de primer a novè part, se seleccionaren d'una granja comercial i foren emprades en tres rèpliques diferents (60 truges per rèplica). Les truges foren allotjades del dia 29 de gestació a una setmana abans del part en gàbies convencionals (STALL), en grups de 10 amb un sistema d'alimentació de caiguda lenta (TRICK) i en grups de 20 amb un dispensador de pinso electrònic sense protecció (FITMIX; 20 truges per sistema d'alimentació i rèplica). Totes les truges havien estat prèviament allotjades en gàbies i foren alimentades de forma igualment restringida. Les truges s'observaren 11 dies no consecutius durant 4 h al dia. En tots els sistemes, els nivells d'activitat general i d'estereotípies es mesuraren mitjançant la tècnica d'observació scan-sampling a intervals de 10 minuts. S'obtingueren dues mostres de sang per rèplica i es determinaren els nivells d'haptoglobina (Hp) i pig-MAP per valorar el grau d'estrès físic. El gruix de greix dorsal, el pes viu i els resultats reproductius també foren considerats. En els dos sistemes d'allotjament en grup, s'enregistraren les agressions mitjançant observació contínua i posteriorment es calculà l'ordre de dominància (RI). Al sistema FITMIX, s'analitzaren les dades de comportament alimentari enregistrades automàticament durant 25 cicles alimentaris no consecutius. El número de visites al dispensador, la duració de les visites i l'ocupació del dispensador s'analitzaren per dia i per hora per determinar els patrons de comportament alimentari i la seva evolució circadiària i al llarg del temps. També es determinà l'establiment de l'ordre d'accés al dispensador. En general, l'allotjament de les truges en grup amb FITMIX incrementà el descans i disminuí les estereotípies oronasofacials en major mesura que l'allotjament en grup amb TRICK. Ambdós sistemes d'allotjament en grup reduïren considerablement la masticació en buit. Les primípares mostraren uns nivells d'activitat general i d'estereotípies menors que les truges adultes en tots els sistemes. Els nivells d'Hp i de pig-MAP, i les mesures productives no diferiren entre sistemes. En canvi, les incidències com coixeses o ferides de vulva foren més freqüents en els sistemes d'allotjament en grup. La freqüència, la intensitat i la proporció de resolució de les agressions foren més altes al sistema FITMIX, tot i que el contacte físic intens fou inusual en ambdós sistemes. Els conflictes al sistema FITMIX foren principalment per menjar, mentre que al sistema TRICK es produïren principalment a la zona de descans. Tanmateix, la proporció d'agressions per beure fou major al sistema TRICK. La correlació entre l'RI i el pes viu fou major al sistema FITMIX, tot i que la correlació entre l'RI i el número de part fou similar en ambdós sistemes. Les primípares participaren menys en agressions, tot i que en reberen més que n'iniciaren en ambdós sistemes. El 46% de les truges del sistema FITMIX, majoritàriament primípares i subordinades, necessitaren ajuda per adaptar-se al sistema d'alimentació. Finalment, el 8,3% de les truges del sistema FITMIX no s'adaptaren i foren eliminades.Les truges del sistema FITMIX feren diverses visites al dispensador per obtenir la seva ració diària, tot i que l'ocupació diària del dispensador fou menor que la citada a la literatura referent als sistemes d'alimentació electrònica amb protecció (ESF). L'ocupació diària disminuí al llarg del temps. Dins de cada cicle alimentari, la màxima activitat al voltant del dispensador s'observà a les hores immediates al seu inici, de manera que l'activitat fou molt baixa en la segona meitat del cicle. Un ordre d'accés al dispensador relativament estable i correlacionat amb l'RI s'establí ràpidament i es mantingué durant l'experiment. Les truges dominants accediren al dispensador més aviat i feren un número de visites similar a les truges subordinades però de major duració i per tant, ocuparen el dispensador durant més temps. En conclusió, els sistemes d'allotjament en grup augmentaren el descans i disminuïren les estereotípies mantenint uns nivells de productivitat i de dany tissular similars als de les truges en gàbies. El sistema FITMIX presentà major competitivitat que el sistema TRICK a causa de l'alimentació seqüencial. El sistema FITMIX fou eficient en grups estables de mida mitjana, tot i que l'optimització de l'eficiència no s'assolí fins al cap d'uns dies. D'altra banda, l'establiment d'un ordre d'accés al dispensador correlacionat amb l'ordre de dominància podria disminuir el conflicte per menjar i ajudar al personal a detectar problemes. Tenint en compte tots els factors, l'allotjament en grup podria ser una bona alternativa a les gàbies sempre que el maneig sigui l'adequat. Un personal més qualificat podria ser necessari per la detecció precoç i la solució dels problemes, sobretot per prevenir l'agressivitat excessiva i assegurar l'adaptació en sistemes d'alimentació seqüencial. Malgrat tot, els efectes a llarg termini dels sistemes d'allotjament en grup sobre el benestar haurien de ser avaluats prèviament a llur recomanació. / Las nuevas directivas de la UE sobre la protección de los cerdos (Sus scrofa) hacen necesario el desarrollo de sistemas de alojamiento en grupo apropiados desde el punto de vista del bienestar y la productividad. El objetivo general de este estudio fue la comparación entre dos sistemas comerciales de alojamiento en grupo y las jaulas convencionales para cerdas gestantes, mediante medidas de comportamiento, fisiológicas y productivas. Ciento ochenta cerdas gestantes, de primer a noveno parto, se seleccionaron en una granja comercial y se repartieron en tres réplicas diferentes (60 cerdas por réplica). Las cerdas se alojaron desde el día 29 de gestación a una semana antes del parto en jaulas convencionales (STALL), en grupos de 10 con un sistema de alimentación de caída lenta (TRICK) y en grupos de 20 con un dispensador de pienso electrónico sin protección (FITMIX; 20 cerdas por sistema de alimentación y réplica). Todas las cerdas habían estado previamente alojadas en jaulas y se alimentaron de forma igualmente restringida. Las cerdas se observaron 11 días no consecutivos durante 4 h al día. En todos los sistemas, los niveles de actividad general y de estereotipias se midieron mediante la técnica de observación scan-sampling a intervalos de 10 minutos. Se obtuvieron dos muestras de sangre por réplica y se determinaron los niveles de haptoglobina (Hp) y pig-MAP para valorar el grado de estrés físico. El espesor de tocino dorsal, el peso vivo y los resultados reproductivos también fueron considerados. En los dos sistemas de alojamiento en grupo, se registraron las agresiones mediante observación continua y posteriormente se calculó el orden de dominancia (RI). En el sistema FITMIX, se analizaron los datos de comportamiento alimentario registrados automáticamente durante 25 ciclos alimentarios no consecutivos. El número de visitas al dispensador, la duración de las visitas y la ocupación del dispensador se analizaron por día y por hora para determinar los patrones de comportamiento alimentario y su evolución circadiana y a lo largo del tiempo. También se determinó el establecimiento del orden de acceso al dispensador. En general, el alojamiento de las cerdas en grupo con FITMIX incrementó el descanso y disminuyó las estereotipias oronasofaciales en mayor medida que el alojamiento en grupo con TRICK. Ambos sistemas de alojamiento en grupo redujeron considerablemente la masticación en vacío. Las primíparas mostraron unos niveles de actividad general y de estereotipias menores que las cerdas adultas en todos los sistemas. Los niveles de Hp y de pig-MAP, y las medidas productivas no difirieron entre sistemas. En cambio, las incidencias como cojeras o heridas de vulva fueron más frecuentes en los sistemas de alojamiento en grupo.La frecuencia, la intensidad y la proporción de resolución de las agresiones fueron mayores en el sistema FITMIX, aunque el contacto físico intenso fue inusual en ambos sistemas. Los conflictos en el sistema FITMIX fueron principalmente por comer, mientras que en el sistema TRICK se produjeron principalmente en la zona de descanso. Asimismo, la proporción de agresiones en el bebedero fue mayor en el sistema TRICK. La correlación entre el RI y el peso vivo fue mayor en el sistema FITMIX, a pesar de que la correlación entre el RI y el número de parto fue similar en ambos sistemas. Las primíparas participaron menos en agresiones, aunque recibieron más que las que iniciaron en ambos sistemas. El 46% de las cerdas del sistema FITMIX, mayoritariamente primíparas y subordinadas, necesitaron ayuda para adaptarse al sistema de alimentación. Finalmente, el 8,3% de las cerdas del sistema FITMIX no se adaptaron y fueron eliminadas.Las cerdas del sistema FITMIX hicieron diversas visitas al dispensador para obtener su ración diaria, aunque la ocupación diaria del dispensador fue menor que la citada en la literatura referente a los sistemas de alimentación electrónica con protección (ESF). La ocupación diaria disminuyó a lo largo del tiempo. En cada ciclo alimentario, la máxima actividad alrededor del dispensador se observó en las horas inmediatas a su inicio, de manera que la actividad fue muy baja en la segunda mitad del ciclo. Un orden de acceso al dispensador relativamente estable y correlacionado con el RI se estableció rápidamente y se mantuvo durante el experimento. Las cerdas dominantes accedieron al dispensador más temprano e hicieron un número de visitas similar a las cerdas subordinadas pero de mayor duración, por lo que ocuparon el dispensador durante más tiempo.En conclusión, los sistemas de alojamiento en grupo aumentaron el descanso y disminuyeron las estereotipias manteniendo unos niveles de productividad y de lesión tisular similares a los de las cerdas en jaulas. El sistema FITMIX presentó mayor competitividad que el sistema TRICK a causa de la alimentación secuencial. El sistema FITMIX se mostró eficiente en grupos estables de tamaño medio, aunque la optimización de la eficiencia no se alcanzó hasta al cabo de unos días. Por otra parte, el establecimiento de un orden de acceso al dispensador correlacionado con el RI podría disminuir el conflicto por comer y ayudar al personal a detectar problemas. Teniendo en cuenta todos los factores, el alojamiento en grupo podría ser una buena alternativa a las jaulas siempre que el manejo sea el adecuado. Un personal más cualificado podría ser necesario para la detección precoz y la solución de los problemas, sobre todo para prevenir la agresividad excesiva y asegurar la adaptación en sistemas de alimentación secuencial. No obstante, los efectos a largo plazo de los sistemas de alojamiento en grupo sobre el bienestar deberían ser evaluados previamente a su recomendación. / The new EU directives on the protection of pigs (Sus scrofa) make necessary the development of appropriate group housing systems on a welfare and productivity basis. The general objective of this study was the comparison among two different commercial group housing systems and conventional stalls for pregnant sows by assessing behavioural, physiological and performance measures. One hundred and eighty pregnant sows, from first to ninth parity, were selected on a commercial farm and used in three different replicas (60 sows per replica). Sows were housed from day 29 of pregnancy to 1 week before parturition in conventional stalls (STALL), in groups of 10 with trickle feeding (TRICK) and in groups of 20 with an unprotected electronic sow feeder (FITMIX; 20 sows per housing system per replica). All the sows had been previously stall-housed and were equally feed-restricted. Sows were observed on 11 non-consecutive days during 4 h a day. General activity and stereotypies were measured by scan-sampling observation (10-min intervals) in all the systems. Blood samples were obtained twice a replica and levels of haptoglobin (Hp) and pig-MAP were determined to assess physical stress. Backfat depth, liveweight and reproductive performance were also considered. In the two group housing systems, aggressions were recorded by continuous behaviour sampling and a dominance rank (RI) was thereafter calculated. In FITMIX, data on feeding behaviour recorded by the system from 25 non-consecutive feeding cycles were analyzed. Number of visits to the feeder, duration of the visits and feeder occupation was analyzed on a daily and hourly basis to determine over-time and circadian feeding patterns. The establishment of a feeding order was also assessed. Overall, group housing sows with FITMIX appeared to increase resting behaviour and decrease oronasofacial stereotypies to a higher extent than with TRICK. Both group housing systems reduced considerably the performance of sham-chewing. Gilts showed a lower general activity and performance of stereotypies than older sows in all the systems. In general, Hp and pig-MAP levels and productivity measures did not differ among systems. However, incidences such as lameness or vulva injuries were more often detected in group housing systems. Frequency of aggressions, intensity and proportion of resolution were higher in FITMIX, yet intense physical contact was unusual in both systems. Conflicts in FITMIX were largely for feeding whereas in TRICK, they occurred mainly in the resting area. However, proportion of aggressions for drinking was higher in TRICK. Correlation between RI and liveweight was stronger in FITMIX, although correlation between RI and parity was similar in the two systems. Gilts got less involved in aggressions, although they received more aggressions than they initiated in both group housing systems. Forty-six per cent of the FITMIX sows, mostly gilts and subordinates, needed assistance to adapt to the feeding system. Eventually, 8.3% of the FITMIX sows failed to adapt and had to be removed.FITMIX sows made several visits to the feeder to get their daily ration, although daily feeder occupation seemed to be shorter compared to literature on protected ESF. Daily feeder occupation per sow appeared to decrease over time. Within each feeding cycle, maximum activity around the feeder was observed in the hours following the start of the cycle, so that activity was very low in the latter half of the cycle. A relatively stable feeding order was quickly established and maintained over the experiment and it highly correlated with RI. High-ranking sows fed earlier and made as many visits as low-ranking sows but longer and thus, they occupied the feeder for longer.In conclusion, well-managed group-housed sows seemed to increase resting behaviour and decrease stereotypies at similar productivity and tissue damage levels than conventional stalls. Sequential feeding appeared to make FITMIX a more competitive feeding system than TRICK. In terms of efficiency, FITMIX appeared to be a good system for medium-sized stable groups of sow, although optimization of the feeder efficiency may take several weeks. However, the establishment of a rank-related feeding order may ameliorate disturbance around the feeder and help stockmanship to detect problems. Taking everything into account, it can be suggested that group housing systems can be a good alternative to stalls provided that management is appropriate. Higher quality stockmanpeople may be required for early detection and solution of problems, particularly to prevent excessive aggression and ensure adaptation in sequential feeding systems. Nevertheless, long-term effects of group housing systems on welfare should be further assessed before recommendations are made.

Syfte med denna uppsats är att undersöka hur personalen på två gruppbostäder, enligt Lagen om stöd och service till vissa funktionshindrade, utformar stöd gentemot de boende på gruppbostäderna. Avgränsningen är dragen till att undersöka matsituationen där denna är uppdelad i de fyra delarna: planering, inhandling, matlagning och måltiden som social konstruktion. Det empiriska materialet har samlats in genom kvalitativa intervjuer med personal från gruppbostäderna och fokus är att undersöka huruvida de boende får vara delaktiga och självbestämmande i matsituationen. Det framkommer i undersökningen att förhållandet mellan boende och personal är komplext och att personalen påverkar de boende på explicita såväl som implicita sätt. Då stödet som erbjuds till stor del grundar sig i en normalisering så påverkas de boende bland annat till att tillaga varierad kost samt att äta nyttig mat. Resultatet avslöjar även vissa aspekter av hur de boende kan motverka personalens påverkan. De boende kan exempelvis undvika att äta upp grönsaker som personal lagt upp på tallriken. Även om personalen belyser de boendes självbestämmanderätt som något självklart framgår en annan tolkning utifrån deras beskrivningar av hur stödet utformas. En diskussion förs bland annat om ett paternalistiskt förhållningssätt där personalen, som expert, beslutar eller påverkar till önskvärda beslut. Slutsatsen är att personalen explicit påtalar de boendes självbestämmanderätt och delaktighet men att det i beskrivningar av hur stödet utformas ofta framkommer paternalistisk omsorg där personalen till stor del påverkar och bestämmer. / The purpose of this study is to examine how the personnel, who are the caregivers, create a support plan for disabled people in a special type of group housing. To be exact, the examination focuses on four different activities related to food. These are projection, purchasing, cooking and eating. The empirical material was gathered by doing qualitative interviews with the personnel and, apart from the activities related to food, focus was also given to the disabled people’s participation and right to make decisions by themselves. The result of the study was that the relationship between the disabled people and the personnel is complex because their right to make decisions by themselves is not always compatible with good care. The personnel express different ways of influencing the disabled people to eat healthier and to try a variety of dishes. The result also reveals some ways that the disabled people can escape the influences of the personnel, for example by refusing to eat the vegetables that the personnel put on their plate. The conclusion of the study shows that the personnel often talk about the disabled people’s right to decide for themselves. But descriptions of how the help is formed shows that it is the personnel that often decides and influence the disabled persons to make certain choices.

<p>The aim of our study has been to investigate what kind of space there is to exert influence for adult persons with mild intellectual disabilities who live on group housing. We wanted to investigate what kind of hindrance and possibilities there were to exert influence for people on group housing. Our study has been built on qualitative group discussions with 9 persons with mild intellectual disabilities and 6 care-keepers. We have analysed our discussions on the basis of the theory of empowerment. Our result indicates that there is different kind of factors that affect the possibilities for people with mild intellectual disabilities to increase their influence, and it does not always have to do with the disability how the persons can make their voices heard. Economy was one of the facts that were common for our informers own statements. The support from the care-keepers also seemed to have a big importance to enable possibilities for the persons with intellectual disabilities to exert influence.</p>

<p>The aim of this study was to investigate the emotions among the staff at the group housings when they observe the caretakers expressions of masturbation and how the staff handles these expressions in their daily and long-term work. The theoretical concepts that were used in this study are group housing as a public and private arena, occupational role, relation, humanistic effort, pedagogical effort, empowerment, care ethic and emotions. The concepts are related to each other and constitutes the foundation for the analysis of the empirical data used in this study. A qualitative study was carried out, in forms of half structured interviews with six informants, of which the majority was women. It came to light that the interviewees only had positive feelings for the caretaker’s expressions of masturbation. The interviewees had different procedures in their daily work, while there were more similarities in how the staff worked in a long-term perspective with the caretaker’s expressions of masturbation.</p>

The aim of our study has been to investigate what kind of space there is to exert influence for adult persons with mild intellectual disabilities who live on group housing. We wanted to investigate what kind of hindrance and possibilities there were to exert influence for people on group housing. Our study has been built on qualitative group discussions with 9 persons with mild intellectual disabilities and 6 care-keepers. We have analysed our discussions on the basis of the theory of empowerment. Our result indicates that there is different kind of factors that affect the possibilities for people with mild intellectual disabilities to increase their influence, and it does not always have to do with the disability how the persons can make their voices heard. Economy was one of the facts that were common for our informers own statements. The support from the care-keepers also seemed to have a big importance to enable possibilities for the persons with intellectual disabilities to exert influence.

The aim of this study was to investigate the emotions among the staff at the group housings when they observe the caretakers expressions of masturbation and how the staff handles these expressions in their daily and long-term work. The theoretical concepts that were used in this study are group housing as a public and private arena, occupational role, relation, humanistic effort, pedagogical effort, empowerment, care ethic and emotions. The concepts are related to each other and constitutes the foundation for the analysis of the empirical data used in this study. A qualitative study was carried out, in forms of half structured interviews with six informants, of which the majority was women. It came to light that the interviewees only had positive feelings for the caretaker’s expressions of masturbation. The interviewees had different procedures in their daily work, while there were more similarities in how the staff worked in a long-term perspective with the caretaker’s expressions of masturbation.