Use of body surface area to set minimum space allowances for confined pigs and cattle

Abstract

The necessity to set minimum space allowances for confined animals has become more urgent as economic pressures have forced the use of increasingly intensive housing. This paper proposes that 50% of body surface area be adopted as a minimum space allowance for confined pigs and cattle. Body surface areas by weight classification have been provided in graph form. Key words: Space requirement, density, welfare, swine, cattle