Noise in animal housing - a review with emphasis on pig housing.

The interpretation of research on noise assessment in animal housing is dif ficult as goals and methodology of assessment differ substantially between studies. Besides the differences in housing conditions and technology used for mease ring noise, a lack of knowledge exists for intra- and interspecies communic ation, hearing ability and assessment of detrimental consequences following noise exposure. Due to the development of intensive production systems, pigs in all stages of housing are exposed to monotonous chronic noise as well as to a variety of intense noise events. The intention of this review is to document and co mpare the results of previous studies on noise assessment, in particular ho using situations and to demonstrate the impact and significance of the nois e problem for farm animal welfare, housing, design and management.