In support to a decision to be made by the Swedish central competent authority on a minimal amount of Straw for conventional growing-finishing pigs, a study using 168 pigs provided 7 different amounts of Straw (20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 200 or 300 grams/pig/day) was performed. The Straw was provided either once or four times per day. Detailed behaviour observations were made using focal animal sampling and continuous recording for one hour between 9 and 10 am and again between 3 and 4 pm. The data analysis is presented in three ways: broken stick model, polynomial trend line and logarithmic trend line. No method was suitable on its own but the use of all the methods simultaneously was found to portray the data in the best way.No significant differences were found when comparing pens provided with Straw once or four times per day.

This thesis is conducted together with the environmental- and health department in Halmstadcommunity. The thesis is about allowance of bedding and water supply for pig farms inHalmstad community. These farms are chosen randomly from all of the pig farms inHalmstad community. It includes inspection of 27 pig farms and writing of a report. Duringthe inspections I study the amount of bedding, what kind of bedding, water supply andinjuries like lameness, shoulder-bone sore, ear-, flank- and pig tail biting.

It´s important when you are about to build a new stable or just increasing your production that you choose the right housing system and that it fits your own farm. In this study I have put together facts about different housing system for fattening bulls in order to get a clearer picture of witch system is the most suitable for my own farm depending on the conditions I have. The background of this work is my own interest for breeding bulls and I will hopefully increase my own production. Due to this I wanted to learn more and increase my knowledge about different housing systems. Through a literature study I have found out the facts about the housing systems I find suitable for housing bulls.

The project focus on combustion of softwood pellets and pellets in a 40 kW grate fire reactor at TEC-Lab. Dept Applied Physics and Electronics at Umeå University. Experiments were performed at four primary airs to fuel ratios (0.7 to 1.3), where aspects such as temperature profile, levels of gases (CO and NO), sintering-/-slagging and unburned fraction of the ashes were studied. Four different fuel loads were used for wood pellets (10, 20 and 30 kW) and one fuel load for Straw (10 kW). Combustion of Straw proved very difficult to ignite, and also led to other combustion-related technical problem such as slag formation due to the relatively low melting temperature-/-slag temperature of the Straw.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of large amounts of Straw in the farrowing pen on thermal regulation of the newborn piglet in different weight classes. 20 sows were given 15 kg of Straw in the farrowing pen 2 days prior to until 7 days after parturition. A control group of 18 sows had no Straw in the pen. 6 litters from each treatment were observed. Measurements of piglet body temperature were made at 0h, 2h, 4h, 8h and 24h after parturition. At ?8h? the body temperature of the piglets in the Straw group were significantly higher (P=0,0149) than the piglets in the Control group.

Interest in alternative energies is high in Sweden today, particularly in the agricultural sector. According to the Swedish lantbruksbarometern (2009), almost all respondents consider the use of some form of alternative energy from the farm. While interest in alternative energies is large, attention to the alternative energy Straw has fallen and is almost nowhere mentioned in the literature today. Three years ago, in the Lantbruksbarometern nearly 44% of the farmers would be willing to invest in Straw as heating system on the farm. How do the farmers decide to invest in alternative energies? With this information a problem is presented for this paper.

The German equine housing system, HIT Active Stable?, are adjusted for keeping horses in groups, and are well establishes in Germany. Now the system attracts attention here in Sweden. The purpose of this study was to investigate if the horses have any be-haviours need of free access to roughages like Straw or hay, after they have been visit the concentrate feeding station. A study was carried out at family Krohn?s active stables in Bönningstedt, Germany.

Interest in alternative energies is high in Sweden today, particularly in the agricultural sector. According to the Swedish lantbruksbarometern (2009), almost all respondents consider the use of some form of alternative energy from the farm. While interest in alternative energies is large, attention to the alternative energy Straw has fallen and is almost nowhere mentioned in the literature today. Three years ago, in the Lantbruksbarometern nearly 44% of the farmers would be willing to invest in Straw as heating system on the farm. How do the farmers decide to invest in alternative energies? With this information a problem is presented for this paper.

Animal welfare is of increasing concern in present society. In commercial pig farming, animal welfare problems are common. One of the causes for these problems is the barren environment in which pigs are housed, which can cause oral manipulation of pen mates. Providing Straw might be one solution to this problem. Another solution could be reached through genetic selection.

Using the Introductory Carbon Balance Model, ICBM, five different crop rotations with rye 1. Rye-Ley-Ley-Rye-Beans-Rye 2. Rye-Rye-Rapeseed-Rapeseed 3. Rye-Ley-Ley-Rye-Potatoes-Rye 4. Rye-Rye-Potatoes-Wheat 5. Rye-Rye-Potatoes-Beans-Wheat-Rye-Potatoes-Rapeseed were tested theoretically in four different cultivation scenarios ? Straw left on the field, biogas digestate added as fertilizer. Labelled ?+Straw+BD?. ? Straw left on the field, only synthetic fertilizer. Labelled ?+Straw-BD?. ? Straw harvested, biogas digestate added as fertilizer.

This thesis was performed at SverigeGrepen AB. SverigeGrepen is a company that hasone product on the market; a manure fork that is designed to be used for mucking inshavings or peat. The aim of this thesis was to develop a new manure fork that isadapted to be used in Straw.The development started with a pilot study where experience of mucking wascollected to be able to understand what and why certain characteristics are importantfor the function and use of the manure fork.A basic concept was developed where the main function was fulfilled, which meantthat a separation between dung and Straw could be performed in a way that wasbeneficial for the user.The work resulted in four concepts of how a manure fork could be used in the Strawthat can be designed and constructed. The conclusion that the work gave was that allconcepts met the main requirements required by a manure fork to use in Straw.However, concept four provides a good visual impression, while its benefits areassumed to be important qualities..

To provide our company a new business opportunity I have in this essay examined the economical possibilities to sell energy. I have chosen to do a case study on my own farm in this essay. The farm is focused to cropping and also have some properties for hire. The farm is situated in the village of Fjelie and that?s where the opportunity for selling heat are. Fjelie has about forty houses. The idea is to build a plant where Straw is being used as fuel.

This study is one of five that has been done based on Lunds Energi?s planned investment in bioenergy. The plan is to build two large burners, at Örtofta, that?s going to be supplied with biofuels. In this study I take a closer look on the profitability when you choose to sell your cereal as bioenergy. I?ve been calculating with selling the Straw from the grain crops and winter rape, selling the rye weat as whole crop and fertilize the hemp with sewage sludge.

Summary Today energy prices are rising. As a result biomass fuel is getting more and more interesting. Wood chips is very popular, but also Straw from grain production is on the table. Lunds Energi AB project a combined power and heating plant in Örtofta out of Lund. Wood chips is meant to be the main energy source, complemented by Straw. In this thesis the transportation of Straw for fuel is studied.

The weather has been extremely rainy the last summers in Sweden. Because of the rain, a lot of harvested Straw has been lost since it was too wet to store. When the pig producers couldn?t get enough Straw to use as bedding, an alternative was requested. Silage is a realistic alternative to Straw but since silage often contains clover, it may not be suitable to use in pig production since clover is rich in phytoestrogens.