Desgaste de casco e comportamento de ovinos confinados com diferentes tipos de piso.

Abstract

The concern and interest of sheep in confined environment have increased in recent years and there is the need for scientific support in the assessment of the conditions in which animals are bred. To that end, objective from that study to assess the hull and wear behavior of sheep confined in individual pens with different floor types. The experiment was developed in Campina Grande/PB, using individual pens 18 to accommodate the treatments tested: concrete floor (PC), interlocking rubber floor (PB) and sand (PA). Were distributed randomly 18 female Santa Inês sheep, in individual pens. The climatic characterization of the environment was due to air temperature and relative humidity. The surface temperature (Tsup) of the floors was obtained by infrared thermometer at three different medium points. The measures of hull of the animals were obtained through a digital caliper. On a weekly basis, behavioral analysis was performed regarding positional status, eating behavior and interaction behavior. The animals were weighed individually every fifteen days, the averages were compared according to the treatments. By results, the sand floor presented higher values when the times of highest ambient temperature of the day. In the rubber floor was approximately 1% lower than the indices of other treatments. By Tsup, the sand remained at higher temperature during all collection times, being in this situation, the rubber flooring the most efficient among treatments. Taking into account the dimensions of the hooves of sheep submitted to different levels, only the concrete floor featured influences the length of both members The behavioral parameters, only there was significance in the trip to the water cooler when the animals were in cubicles with concrete floor and there is no influence on other parameters.