Effects of pen partition design and hiding facilities on elimination and lying behavior of finishing pigs (2026)

Yu, Z., Wang, H., He, Z. et al.

Abstract

In intensive commercial pig production systems, the spatial distribution of elimination and lying behaviors plays a crucial role in pen hygiene, management efficiency, and animal welfare. Pen partition design and the provision of hiding facilities are key structural factors that may influence pigs’ spatial preferences; however, systematic evaluations of their combined effects remain limited. A total of 108 growing–finishing pigs were used in a 3 × 2 factorial design to assess the effects of different partition types and hiding facility configurations, as well as their interaction, on the spatial distribution of elimination and lying behaviors. Behavioral data were analyzed using non-parametric statistical methods. The results showed that partition type and hiding facilities significantly influenced the spatial patterns of elimination and lying behaviors (p < 0.05), whereas no significant effects were observed on total daily elimination duration, elimination frequency, or lying posture distribution (p > 0.05). Elimination behavior was predominantly concentrated in the slatted floor area. The combination of a front-closed partition with a hiding facility significantly increased the proportion of disturbed elimination events (16.2 ± 14.3%), which was higher than that observed in the open partition combined with a hiding facility (7.9 ± 7.6%, p < 0.05). In contrast, the rear-closed partition design was associated with atypical elimination occurring on the solid floor area. Overall, pigs showed a clear preference for lying on the solid floor. The front-closed partition combined with a hiding facility significantly reduced the proportion of lying on the solid floor (64.6 ± 8.5%), whereas the open partition combined with a hiding facility resulted in a higher-than-average proportion of solid-floor lying behavior (80.6 ± 8.9%). These findings indicate that an open partition design combined with a hiding facility is more effective in maintaining functional separation between elimination and resting areas while reducing disturbed elimination events. This study provides experimental evidence to support structural optimization of growing–finishing pig housing, contributing to improved pen hygiene and enhanced animal welfare.