Welfare assessment of Krškopolje pigs reared in different production systems

Abstract

In the present case study, the welfare of local breed (Krškopolje pig) pigs reared indoors, outdoors, and in combined production systems (total of 10 farms) were evaluated. The multidimensional Welfare Quality® assessment protocol, with slight modifications, was used to evaluate the farms. Animal-based observations were used to examine the four main principles of welfare (good feeding, good housing, good health, and appropriate behaviour) and their twelve independent welfare sub-criteria. Scores for each criterion were calculated and each farm was classified into one of the four welfare categories (excellent, enhanced, acceptable, or not classified). Maximal total scores were determined for the “good feeding” principle in the indoor and combined systems, whereas the outdoor system had a lower score (64) because of insufficient water troughs. In the case of “good housing” principle, maximal total scores were attributed to outdoor system, and lower scores for indoor and combined systems (72 and 84, respectively) due to the lesser space allowance, dirtiness and shivering in pigs. The scores for the “principle of good health” were rather low in all husbandry systems (62, 58, 61 for outdoor, indoor and combined systems, respectively), mainly because of the castration method practised without pain relief medication. The integrated score for “appropriate behaviour” was lower in indoor systems, because of lower “exploratory behaviour” scores (64). Considering the overall assessment across all principles, farms having only outdoor or only indoor system were classified as “enhanced” (total score of 77 and 74, respectively), whereas farms with combined system (indoor housing with outdoor access) were classified as “excellent” (total score of 85). The present study showed high welfare quality of housing systems with local breed Krškopolje pigs.