Development of methodology to evaluate the environment acoustic effect on swine welfare

Abstract

The environmental comfort, besides one of the requirements for good productivity, is important to guarantee the animal welfare. In terms of environment, considered today, the interaction between environment and gas production, dust and noises, are fundamental to increase the elements effects on animals performance and not only the thermodynamic aspects can be considered . The work has as objective, the swine vocalization study in each growth phase as an interpretation attempt, registration and analysis of the animals vocalization with the monitoring purpose the stress indications in the swine industrial production by image analysis proof. The experiment beginning will study the sows and pigs vocalization at the maternity. As second objective the noise estimate study, in the post-weaning building, growing-finishing by distribution maps of the environmental noises average, measuring air temperature and relative humidity to track, in relation to the building situations (empty and full), a noise profile level for each 4m2, relating with the climatic variables and handling. As third objective the software development for analysis and interpretation of the sounds transmitted by the animals to increase in a traceability software developed already. (AU)