Comparaison des performances de porcs élevés sur litières ou sur caillebotis

In a first experiment, performances and carcass quality of fattening pigs kept either on a litter with sawdust, on straw or on slatted floor were compared. Three batches of 17 pigs were kept on each floor type. Pens with litter were not cleaned until the end of the third fattening period. On average 100 kg of sawdust or 49 kg of straw were used per pig. The growth rate of pigs on litters was higher (P < 0,01) than that of pigs on slatted floor : 739 g/d on sawdust, 745 g/d on straw and 686 g/d on slatted floor. Carcass quality at slaughter was not different according to the floor type. The peak shear force of the M. Longissimus dorsi was higher for pigs kept on straw than for the 2 other groups.
In a second experiment, 97 weaners, 4 weeks old, were divided in 3 groups on 3 floor types : a deep litter with sawdust, a deep litter with sawdust mixed with straw and a slatted floor. Between 4 and 10 weeks of age, the growth rates of pigs were different (P < 0,05) according to the 2 litters : 438 g/d on the deep litter with straw and sawdust, 397 g/d on sawdust and higher (P < 0,001) than that on slatted floor (273 g/d). Pigs on slatted floor were however disadvantaged by a lower health status in the breeding pig house.