The Effect of Rubber Flooring on Gilt Skin Bacterial Count

摘要

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of rubher flooring on the gilt skin microhiological cleanness.The study was carried out at a commercial pig breeding farm service unit during autumn and winter production cycles,including two groups of 14 gilts each,kept in individual stalls with slatted concrete floor for 28 days.Group 1 gilts served as controls,while in group 2 the stall floor was covered with adjusted textured rubber mat.On cycle days l,8.15 and 28,swabs were obtained from the gilt skin surface and total aerohic mesophilic hacteria (AMB)were enumerated.Study results revealed the mean AMB count on all days observed and AMB count on day 28 to be significantly higher (P＜0.05)in the experimental versus control group in both cycles.Also,a significantly higher (P＜0.05)AMB count was determined in the experimental group on days 8 ancl 15 during winter.In conclusion.the use of rubber flooring for gilts may result in increased values of total AMB on their skin.