Sustainable water consumption in pig farming
Online tool water consumption
Trends
Water consumption in case of disease
Another study in Denmark has shown that disease outbreaks can be predicted accurately by monitoring water consumption. In this study, conducted by Connecting Agri & Food, similar patterns in water consumption were observed. A disease outbreak occurred, showing a same pattern of water consumption. However, the outbreak was so minimal that the relationship with the water consumption cannot be demonstrated with certainty. This requires further study.
After the animals were vaccinated, the same pattern became visible in the water consumption. In addition, deviations from the expected water consumption could be associated with high outside temperatures and major jumps in that outside temperature, as well as with frost (outside the stable).
Increase water consumption
A practical example of sustainable water consumption was discovered after noticing an explosive increase in water consumption in the real-time data. After the entrepreneur had received an alert, he immediately visited the section and the water pipe was found to be broken. That way he could take immediate action and prevent a substantial loss of water.
This graph shows an explosive increase in water consumption when the water pipe broke.
Also climate data
Angela van der Sanden, project account manager, explains: “The results of the studies show the potential for an insight into water consumption. I expect that, in the future, through continuous monitoring of water consumption, we can achieve progress in sustainability and animal health.”
There is a follow-up to the studies on piglets. The measurements have since been expanded to include climate data, where parameters such as CO2, relative humidity and temperature are displayed in real time. In addition, these studies are now also performed on maternity sows.