Due to the large animal inventories and the great volume of waste, swine production is considered a highly polluting activity. Therefore one of its greatest challenges is the development of alternative production systems with lower polluting potential. Deep litter systems may be feasible alternative for waste management due to their capacity for slurry absorption, although they may negatively influence the thermal comfort of the pigs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of distinct depths of rice husk litters used to raise pigs in growing and finishing phases on ambiental temperature and relative humidity inside the barn. Three treatments were compared: litter with a depth of 0.5 m; litter with a depth of 0.25 m; and solid concrete floor. Ambiental temperature and relative humidity inside the barn were not influenced by the use of litter or by different litter depths.
environment; waste; thermal comfort; composting
