A concrete slatted floor system for separation of faeces and urine in pig houses

Abstract

A concrete slatted floor system that consists of a narrow-gap slatted floor and beneath it a slope bottom for separation of faeces and urine in pig houses was investigated. In the experiments, four concrete slatted floors with one of two slat profiles and one of two gap widths, and a steel wire slatted floor were studied to estimate their manure separation performance under practical conditions. To evaluate urine collection efficiency, seven slope gradients and two surface roughnesses of the slope bottom were investigated under laboratory conditions. The lowest percentage of faeces drainage (0.36%) and good urine drainage performance were obtained by a concrete slatted floor with 5 mm-wide gaps and a trapezoidal profile without sharp edges, indicating that separation of faeces and urine can be achieved on the surface of this slatted floor. Using the wet surface area of the slope bottom as an indicator of urine collection efficiency and emission source, a statistical model was developed based on slope gradient, surface roughness, amount of water and water drop height. It was found that the wet surface area of the slope bottom decreased as the slope gradient increased, but increased with increasing surface roughness. The wet surface area was much more sensitive to the variations of slope gradient at lower compared with higher gradient ranges.However, contrary sensitivity responses were obtained for surface roughness.A slope gradient of 201 with a surface coated with fine cement performed best and is recommended for the slope bottom design in the concrete slatted floor system.

Assessment of cleanness of environmental surfaces in cattle barns and piggeries

“…Gaworski et al (2003), divided the environmental area of interest into squares and deduced the soiled area from summing evaluations of the squares, which might lead to a somewhat better accuracy of the measurement than pure qualitative assessment. In the studies by Stefanowska et al (2001) and Ye et al (2007) a visual assessment method was used, but the results were processed using an image analysis program.…”

“…Some of the studies using visual assessment (Table 1) and instrumental methods (Table 3) also included characterization of surfaces. Roughness (Ye et al 2007, 2009, Kuisma et al 2008b) as well as have been used for surface characterization, as well as variations in slope gradients (Ye et al 2007).…”

Application of radiochemical determination methods in cleanability research of building materials

“…Boyd et al, 2001;Colletti et al, 1998;Guan, 2005;Hupa et al, 2005;Kuisma et al, 2003;Larsson, 2000), physical (e.g Dondi et al, 2005;Frettwall and Douglas, 2001;Kronberg et al, 2007;Kuisma et al, 2005aKuisma et al, ,b, 2008Kymäläinen et al, 2008;Mellott et al, 2006;Minabe et al, 2000;Pesonen-Leinonen et al, 2003, 2006bPiispanen et al, 2009;Pitts et al, 1998;Redsven et al, 2003;Schneider et al, 1996;Tenorio Cavalcante et al, 2004;Tikka et al, 2004;Williamson, 1999;Zhang et al, 2006) and visual methods (e.g. Aarnink and Wagemans, 1997;Barker et al, 2007;Botermans and Svendsen, 2000;Gaworski et al, 2003;Hörndahl, 1995;Larsson, 2000;Madec et al, 1998;Ni et al, 1999;Puumala and Lehtiniemi, 1993;Stefanowska et al, 2001;Sundahl, 1974;Svensson et al, 2006;Ye et al, 2007). For example ATP (adenosine triphospate) bioluminescence is a biochemical method.…”

Floor Slat Direction is Related to Severity of Superficial Claw Lesions on Hind Limbs in Gestating Sows, but not Reproductive Performance and Behavior

“…Therefore, the choice of flooring systems on commercial swine farms is an important factor related to claw condition and sow health. Slatted concrete floors are used to separate animals from feces and urine, and maintain good hygiene for sows 16) . Partially or totally slatted concrete floors have been widely used for gestating sows in stall housing systems in swine production in Japan 13) and North America 2) .…”