J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1970. 31:1232-1234.
© 1970 American Society of Animal Science
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Swine—Floor Contact Area as a Function of Body Weight and Posture1

F. J. Grommers2, S. E. Curtis3, H. W. Antonisse4 and G. I. Christison5, 6,

University of Missouri, Columbia

Abstract

Empirical regression equations were calculated for the relations between body weight and floor contact area of swine in various lying postures over a body weight range of 14 to 90 kilograms. Although exponential regressions had somewhat higher coefficients of determination (r2), simple linear or curvilinear equations gave acceptable fits. The four postures and their associated empirical formulas [A=floor contact area (cm2); W=body weight (kg)] were: fully relaxed, flat on one side, A=499+24.8 W (r2=.84); supported by two legs, A=250+20.4 W (r2=.97); supported by three legs, A=247+16.7 W (r2= .84); and supported by four legs, A=581 – 12.1 W+0.23 W2 (r2=.86). Expressed as proportions of total surface area (estimated from Brody's formula: S=970 W.633), floor contact areas for respective lying postures were: 16, 12, 10, and 6 percent for a 70 kg pig.

Preliminary observations were made on neonatal calves and lambs. In the normal lying posture, calf-floor contact area was about 25 cm2 per kg of body weight; when lying on one side, it was 45 (cm2 kg–1). Lamb-floor contact area averaged 66.5 (cm2 kg–1) in various lying postures.

Footnotes

1 Contribution from the Dairy Husbandry Department, Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station. Journal Series No. 5951. Approved by the Director.

2 On leave from Zoötechnical Institute, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Supported by The Netherlands Organization for the Advancement of Pure Research (Z.W.O.).

3 Present address: Animal Science Department, University of Illinois, Urbana.

4 Statistician, Zoötechnical Institute, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht.

5 Present address: Animal Science Department, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon. Canada.

6 The cooperation of B. N. Day and J. J. Matz and assistance of Lynette Powell and G. W. Goldinger are gratefully acknowledged.






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Copyright © 1970 by the American Society of Animal Science.