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In recent years, it has become increasingly difficult for artificial insemination centers to procure high-quality bedding materials.
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate influences of bedding materials on selected environmental and welfare-related aspects in breeding boars.
Methods: Including seasonal changes, two trial runs were conducted, in winter and summer to compare five deep-litter bedding materials (wood shavings, hemp straw, linen straw, spelt husks, and regional wood shavings). The cleanliness of the boar pens was visually assessed at the end of the winter and summer trials using a 4-point scale. Simultaneously, a body position score for each boar was assessed. Temperatures of bedding at 5 cm and 15 cm depth were determined using a thermometric probe at weeks 6 and 16 after initial bedding replacement. Ambient temperature and relative humidity were measured at the same time. Simultaneously, fecal samples were collected and analyzed for oocysts in the winter trial. To include flies as a health hazard and nuisance, sticky traps were evaluated in the summer trial. Generalized linear mixed models and a two-way ANOVA were calculated for the statistical evaluation of observations.
Results: Cleanliness evaluation showed differences among bedding materials in the winter trial but not in the summer trial. There were no differences in the body position score among the materials. Wood shavings and regional wood shavings were generally cooler at the start of the winter and summer trials. The greatest difference of 7°C in means was detected between regional wood shavings and spelt husks at the start of the summer trial and 15 cm depth. Oocyst counts revealed no difference among bedding materials in the winter trial. In the summer trial, fly numbers differed for time of bedding period and for the interaction term between time of bedding period and material.
Conclusion: The results demonstrate clear differences between materials in terms of temperature, cleanliness of pens (winter trial), and partially fly burden (summer trial). Considering heat is a great stressor for most animals, we favor wooden materials as deep-litter bedding for artificial insemination boars compared to others due to lower heat development during the bedding period. Moreover, we recommend avoiding replacement of deep-litter bedding during hot summer months in artificial insemination centers to reduce excessive heat development.
Riedel Anine, Pieper L, Lautner M, Leiding C, Jung M, Schulze M. Influence of deep-litter bedding materials on environmental and welfare-related factors in boar studs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2024; 273: 106215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106215.