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Abstract. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of design of farrowing pens for loose-housed sows on dunging pattern and cleanliness. Thirty commercial pig herds in the south-eastern part of Norway were visited by a trained observer between December and April 2007, to assess the cleanliness of farrowing pens at a standardised time of day (07:00-09:00 h) during 3 to 5 weeks post-partum. The pens were divided into five sectors and the amount of dung in each sector (score 0 – 3) and the proportion of sector covered with dung was scored, and a pen cleanliness index (PCI) was calculated. The PCI varied between farms, from 1.16 in the herd with the cleanest pens to 10.38 in the herd with the dirtiest pens, but the variation within herds was large. We conclude that no specific pen design factor clearly influence the pen floor cleanliness.