scholarly journals Effects of individual versus group housing system during the weaning-to-estrus interval on reproductive performance of sows

animal ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 100122
Author(s):  
T. Schwarz ◽  
M. Małopolska ◽  
J. Nowicki ◽  
R. Tuz ◽  
S. Lazic ◽  
...  
1989 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 523-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Carol Petherick ◽  
Judith K. Blackshaw

The effects on sow reproductive performance of three feeding regimes (ration (R), ad libitum (A) and ration + straw (R + S)), in conjunction with partial barriers placed along the food trough, were investigated. Three groups of four sows were put on the regimes, in a group-housing system, over three consecutive gestations. Each trial lasted 13 days and took place during the first half of the gestation period. Sows on A ate about three times the amount of food that was allocated to them on R and R + S (2 kg per sow per day). Feeding regime did not affect any of the measures of reproductive performance (numbers of piglets liveborn, stillborn, weaned, birth and weaning weights). Sows of parity 7 and over had significantly fewer liveborn and more stillborn piglets compared with parities 2 to 6 (P < 0·05). It is probable that no adverse effects of the feeding regimes were found due to the short time that the sows were on them and because multiparous animals were used. It is suggested that the welfare of ration-fed sows, whose appetite is not satiated, is jeopardized and that this problem may be solved by the provision of fibrous foodstuffs.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1940
Author(s):  
Yejin Min ◽  
Yohan Choi ◽  
Joeun Kim ◽  
Doowan Kim ◽  
Yongdae Jeong ◽  
...  

This study was conducted to provide commercial pig farms with information about group housing systems for sows in accordance with the amendment of the prohibition law for individual stalls for sows in South Korea. Therefore, this experiment was performed to compare the effects of individual stalls (IS) and group housing systems (GS) on the productivity of sows to investigate the feasibility of replacing individual stalls with group housing systems in commercial sow units. Forty primiparous sows (Landrace × Yorkshire; 210.67 ± 2.22 kg average initial body weight) were randomly assigned to four treatments with restricted feeding after 8 weeks from artificial insemination. The four treatments were (i) individual stalls (IS; housed in pen stalls), (ii) short stalls (SS; sows housed in pens with non-gated feeding stalls), (iii) free access stalls (FAS; a non-competitive housing system), and (iv) electronic sow feeders (ESF; used with radio frequency identification technology to allow individual sow management without individual confinement). All sows were transferred to farrowing crates at 110 days of gestation. There were no differences in sow productive performance, reproductive performance, and colostrum composition between IS and GS and among GS. The considered GS did not negatively affect any productivity parameters of primiparous sows compared with IS; the GS could replace IS in commercial sow units.


2018 ◽  
Vol 216 ◽  
pp. 51-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.G.E. Grimberg-Henrici ◽  
K. Büttner ◽  
R.Y. Ladewig ◽  
O. Burfeind ◽  
J. Krieter

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 749-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilith Schrey ◽  
Nicole Kemper ◽  
Michaela Fels

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (9) ◽  
pp. 1567 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Seyfang ◽  
R. N. Kirkwood ◽  
A. J. Tilbrook ◽  
C. R. Ralph

Lifetime reproductive performance and behaviour are established in utero driven by genetics and the steroidal milieu of the uterine environment. Developing males synthesise androgens that can be absorbed by females in the litter. Consequently, the proportion of males in a litter has the potential to affect both lifetime reproductive performance and behaviour of female littermates. Although reproductive potential is understandably important for gilt selection, behaviour is becoming progressively more important as group housing of sows increases. Aggression can be a cause for removal from the breeding herd, and can also negatively affect reproductive performance and herd longevity. This review covers existing evidence of masculinisation in rodents and sheep, the mechanism causing masculinisation, and the knowledge gaps surrounding masculinisation in pigs. Premature culling of gilts is an economic and animal welfare issue in the pork industry resulting in low retention of gilts and reduced productivity. The selection of gilts needs to be improved to incorporate both lifetime reproductive potential and behaviour. We determined that there is cause to investigate the effect of the birth litter sex ratio of a gilt on her suitability for selection into the breeding herd.


2018 ◽  
Vol 160 ◽  
pp. 10-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liat Morgan ◽  
Eyal Klement ◽  
Shiri Novak ◽  
Elad Eliahoo ◽  
Ahmad Younis ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 101-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Pluym ◽  
A. Van Nuffel ◽  
J. Dewulf ◽  
A. Cools ◽  
F. Vangroenweghe ◽  
...  

Claw lesions and lameness in sows are an important welfare concern as well as a cause of considerable economic loss. These problems are more common in group housing than in individual housing systems. Given that group housing for gestating sows will become mandatory in the EU from 2013 onwards, the aim of the present study was: (1) to determine the prevalence of lameness and claw lesions in sows housed in groups during gestation, and (2) to analyze whether the type of group housing system and sow-related factors were associated with lameness and claw lesions. Eight Belgian pig herds with group housing of gestating sows were selected. Four herds used pens with electronic sow feeders (dynamic groups), the other four herds kept their sows in free access stalls (static groups). All sows were visually examined for lameness at the end of gestation. Claw lesions were scored after parturition. Information about feed, housing conditions and culling (strategy) was collected, as well as information about parity and breed. Of all 421 assessed sows, on average 9.7% (min. 2.4%, max. 23.1%) were lame. Almost 99% of the sows had one or more claw lesion with overgrowth of heel horn (93%) and cracks in the wall (52%) as the most prevalent lesions. Neither for lameness nor claw lesions was significant differences found between the two types of group housing. Lameness decreased while the mean claw lesion score increased with ageing. These results suggest that lameness can be caused by reasons other than claw lesions, especially in older sows. Although no difference was found between the two types of group housing, a huge variation between herds was observed. Moreover, as the prevalence of lameness and claw lesions in group housing is quite high and group housing will become mandatory in 2013, further investigation on risk factors of locomotor disorders in sows is necessary.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Dal Bosco ◽  
Alice Cartoni Mancinelli ◽  
Steffen Hoy ◽  
Melania Martino ◽  
Simona Mattioli ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to verify the motivation of rabbit does to social contact or seclusion. The results of two different research activities assessed in Italy (experiment 1) and Germany (experiment 2) through the use of motivational cages are reported. In experiment 1, only the average time of occupation of the group or seclusion zone was recorded of four nulliparous does, while, in experiment 2, the group-housing system provided space for does with kits and consisted of four single areas (nest boxes with individual electronic nest box recognition systems). Experiment 1 showed that does spent a similar amount of time in seclusion or in group (49.61% vs 50.39%, respectively). On the contrary, in experiment 2, does with kits appeared to prefer spending time alone (71.90%) rather than in groups. The presence of kits probably stimulates a hierarchical and aggressive response of the dominant does, with the low-ranking does staying secluded to avoid violent interactions. In fact, in each reproductive cycle, one doe did stay in the group area whereas the other three does used this area in different percentages of time. Further researches are needed to find a good combination of the cage with the does’ physiological phases.


1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (9) ◽  
pp. 2714-2721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eberhard von Borell ◽  
James R. Morris ◽  
J. Frank Hurnik ◽  
Bonnie A. Mallard ◽  
Mary M. Buhr
Keyword(s):  

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