Sperimentazione su stazioni di raffrescamento con identificazione elettronica delle scrofe

In a dynamic group of 193 pregnant sows (as average number of the experimental period) two Automatic Shower Cages (ASC) were installed during summer 2004. The ASC is a cage composed of a metallic tubular structure, 1.90 m long and 0.55 m wide. In the upper part the cage presents the sprinklers. On the top an electronic controller, which regulates the water sprinkling time, is installed. The cages were provided with a data communication system which allowed to store on a PC the information about the utilization of the shower equipment by the single sows of the group. The percentage use of the ASC, that is the number of sows taking at least a shower during the day on the total number of sows in the group, was 50.39% on average (± 15.89). With the highest daily temperatures (on 23rd of July) the number of sows taking showers considerably increased (76.92%). The number of showers taken by the sows during the day is related to the microclimatic conditions, arriving to 788 in a hot day. A single shower has an average length of 59 sec, but this value greatly fluctuates in relation to outside temperature, arriving to an average value of 80 sec. Thus, the total time spent in the 2 ASC by the sows of the group can exceed the 17 hours and half. In conclusion the sows of the experimental group clearly appreciated the systems installed in the pen which are based on the free access in the station and on the possibility to take showers round the clock and also for more times consecutively.