# Effects of Pen Partition Design and Hiding Facilities on Elimination and Lying Behavior of Finishing Pigs

## TL;DR

This study shows that pig pen design with open partitions and hiding areas improves hygiene and animal welfare by separating elimination and resting zones.

## Contribution

The study experimentally evaluates how partition design and hiding facilities influence spatial behavior in growing–finishing pigs.

## Key findings

- An open partition with a hiding facility reduces disturbed elimination events and maintains functional separation.
- A front-closed partition with a hiding facility increases overlap between elimination and lying areas.
- Pigs prefer lying on solid floors, with open partitions promoting higher proportions of this behavior.

## Abstract

The spatial distribution of elimination and lying areas within pig pens directly affects pen cleanliness, management efficiency, and animal welfare. Different partition designs and the provision of hiding facilities may alter how pigs allocate space for resting and elimination. In this study, growing–finishing pigs were systematically observed to evaluate the effects of various partition types and hiding facility combinations on the spatial distribution of elimination and lying behaviors. The results indicate that an appropriate combination of partition structure and hiding facilities helps maintain a clear functional separation between elimination and resting areas, thereby reducing disturbed elimination events and spatial disorder. Notably, the open partition combined with a hiding facility showed more stable spatial utilization patterns, whereas the front-closed partition combined with a hiding facility increased the risk of overlap between elimination and lying areas. These findings provide behavioral evidence to support structural optimization in commercial growing–finishing pig housing. Proper pen design can reduce pen contamination, stabilize functional zoning, improve hygiene conditions, and ultimately enhance animal welfare.

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.