ANIMAL WELFARE - Housing

Question 1

List six reasons for housing animals

Answer 1

Protection from predators
Biosecurity
Control of diet
Parasite control
Easier management
Allow pasture to regrow

Question 2

List five requirements for a successful housing system

Answer 2

Ventilation
Suitable temperature
Adequate faecal/urinary separation
Appropriate feeding area
Provide a safe working environment

Question 3

What are the four main problems associated with housing animals?

Answer 3

Pathogen build up
Temperature
Humidity
Noxious gas build up

Question 4

What is the most critical component of successful housing?

Answer 4

Good management

Question 5

What is the thermoneutral zone?

Answer 5

The thermoneutral zone refers to the temperature range in which an organism can maintain its body temperature without expending extra metabolic energy

Question 6

What is the thermocomfort zone?

Answer 6

The thermocomfort zone refers to the temperature range within the thermoneutral zone where the organism feels most comfortable

Question 7

What are the upper and lower critical temperatures?

Answer 7

Upper and lower critical temperatures refer to the temperature thresholds at which an organism’s thermoregulatory mechanisms kick in to maintain body temperature

Question 8

How does a high energy diet allow animals to be more tolerant of the cold?

Answer 8

When animals consume a high energy diet, this increases their metabolic rate allowing them to have more efficient thermoregulatory methods

Question 9

What is absolute humidity?

Answer 9

Absolute humidity is the measure of the actual amount of water vapour present in a given quantity of air (g/m³)

Question 10

What is relative humidity?

Answer 10

Relative humidity is the measure of how much water vapour is present in the air relative to the maximum amount of water vapour that could be present in the air at a given temperature. This value would be expressed as a percentage (%)

Question 11

What happens to the absolute humidity when temperature increases by 10°C?

Answer 11

Absolute humidity will double

Question 12

What are the four main sources of moisture in livestock housing?

Answer 12

Urine
Faeces
Respiration
Rain

Question 13

Why is it important to control the humidity in livestock housing?

Answer 13

Prevent condensation and deterioration of materials
Reduce pathogens and disease
Prevents animals getting wet and increasing heat loss

Question 14

List three methods that can be used to remove faeces and urine from housing to reduce humidity?

Answer 14

Slats
Scrapers
Slopes

Question 15

(T/F) Slurry gas actively kills at high concentrations

Answer 15

TRUE.

Question 16

How many air changes per hour should a well-ventilated building have?

Answer 16

10-15 air changes per hour

Question 17

What is the difference between climatic and climate-controlled housing?

Answer 17

Climatic housing aims to replicate the natural climate whereas climate-controlled housing allows for precise control over the environment

Question 18

What are six features of climatic housing?

Answer 18

Low stocking density
Not insulated
Naturally ventilated
Large cubic air space per animal
Natural lighting
Cheaper than climate-controlled housing

Question 19

Which animals would climatic housing be suitable for?

Answer 19

Climatic housing is suitable for animals with higher critical temperatures such as ruminants, horses and adult pigs

Question 20

What are six features of climate-controlled housing?

Answer 20

High stocking density
Well insulated
Controlled ventilation
Low cubic air space per animal
Artificial lighting
Expensive to construct

Question 21

Which animals would climate-controlled housing be suitable for?

Answer 21

Climate-controlled housing is suitable for animals with lower critical temperatures such as poultry and piglets

Question 22

List three methods of passive ventilation

Answer 22

Stack effect
Cross-wind
Inlets

Question 23

What is the stack effect?

Answer 23

The stack effect occurs when warm air rises and creates a pressure difference, drawing cool air from the lower openings and expelling warm air from the higher openings in the building

Question 24

What is cross-wind ventilation?

Answer 24

Cross-wind ventilation occurs when wind blows across a building, creating a pressure difference driving air movement through the openings on both sides of the building

Question 25

What is inlet ventilation?

Answer 25

Inlet ventilation is designated openings or vents that allow air to flow into a building

Question 26

What is the concept of animal flow?

Answer 26

Animal flow refers to a building design which encourages the animals to use the building as intended with minimal stress, bullying or undesirable outcomes