The social and feeding behaviour of growing pigs in deep-litter, large group housing systems

2003 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.S Morrison ◽  
P.H Hemsworth ◽  
G.M Cronin ◽  
R.G Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Group Housing ◽  
Large Group ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
The Social

scholarly journals Zum Einfluss des Tier-Fressplatz-Verhältnisses in der Gruppenhaltung tragender Sauen bei ad libitum Fütterung auf Gesundheit, Verhalten und Leistung

2004 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 239-248
Author(s):  
S. Sendig ◽  
A. Rudovsky ◽  
J. Spilke ◽  
E. Meyer ◽  
E. von Borell
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Group Housing ◽  
Clear Trend ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Eu Directive ◽  
German Legislation ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Space Ratio

Abstract. Title of the paper: Influence of animal/feeder-trough space ratio on health, behaviour and performance of group housed sows fed ad libitum The EU-Directive on the "Minimum requirements for the protection of pigs" prohibits the housing of gestating sows in individual crates. One alternative to individual housing of restricted fed sows is group-housing with ad libitum access to feed. The proposed animal/feeder-trough space ratio of 4:1 in the German legislation was taken from housing systems for growing pigs due to a lack of scientific data on sow to feeder-trough space ratios. The aim of this study was to evaluate practically meaningful animal/feeder-trough space ratios with respect to animal welfare. Therefore, different animal/feeder-trough space ratios between 8:1 and 20:1 were investigated on three farms. The behaviour at the feeder, as well as health (body scoring), weight gain, back fat thickness and fertility were recorded in gestating sows between days 35 and 110 of pregnancy. The frequency of aggressive interactions and displacements at the feeder was progressively reduced in all tests after grouping the sows. Furthermore, the results pointed out that narrowing the animal/feeder-trough space ratio positively influenced both the conditioning of the sows before lactation and birth weights of the piglets. No clear trend between the different animal/feeder-trough space ratios of group-housed sows was found for the total number born, live and dead born piglets. A small number of sows showed minor injuries, which are not unusual for group housing systems. The evaluated animal/feeder-trough space ratios did not show indications of an impaired well-being of the sows. Our data do not support the legal demand for a threshold of 4:1 for the animal/feeder-trough space ratio. However, further studies with varying group sizes, group densities and animal/feeder-trough space ratios are needed in order to provide detailed recommendations on acceptable ratios.

scholarly journals Large Group Housing Systems in Fattening Bulls—Comparison of Behavior and Performance

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Schneider ◽  
Nina Volkmann ◽  
Birgit Spindler ◽  
Nicole Kemper
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Group Size ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Group Housing ◽  
Large Group ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Interindividual Variations ◽  
Behavioral Observations ◽  
The Common ◽  
And Performance

According to international housing recommendations, fattening bulls should not be housed in groups of more than 12–20 animals. However, there are no scientific studies supporting these recommendations as most studies on fattening cattle refer to smaller groups. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze and compare behavior and performance of 187 fattening bulls housed in different group sizes of 16, 22, and 33 animals. Behavioral observations were performed during three observation periods at an average age of 8.5, 13, and 17 months. Furthermore, body condition, health status and carcass weights were analyzed. Effects of increasing group size were observed regarding more synchronized lying behavior, longer lying durations and more undisturbed feeding and lying behavior. Interindividual variations in lying and feeding as well as mean and maximum percentages of animals participating simultaneously in interactions did not increase with group size. Health and growth performance were satisfactory in all group sizes. Therefore, the results of this study do not provide scientific evidence for the common argument that increasing group size leads to increased aggression. Furthermore, these findings indicate large group systems to be suitable for the housing of fattening cattle and to contribute to increasing animal welfare. Consequently, current recommendations should be revised.

Adrenal cortex activity, reproduction and welfare of pregnant gilts in a group housing system

1991 ◽  
Vol 1991 ◽  
pp. 64-64
Author(s):  
M.T. Mendl ◽  
D.M. Broom ◽  
A.J. Zanella
Keyword(s):  
Social Environment ◽  
Social Stress ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Group Housing ◽  
Detailed Data ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
The Social ◽  
Group Members ◽  
High Production ◽  
Large Groups

On many farms in Britain, the housing of pregnant sows in groups, principally in electronic sow feeder systems, is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to housing them individually in stalls or tethers. When sows are housed in large groups, particularly in "dynamic groups" where individuals are continually leaving the group to farrow and re-joining it after lactation, aggression between group members may become a problem. Aggression may give rise to social stress and injuries and may also have detrimental effects on production. In order to ensure good welfare and high production in group housing systems, it is essential to gain some fundamental knowledge as to how individual sows are affected by the social environment in which they live. This paper examines how a group of gilts responded to being introduced into an electronic sow feeder system and mixed with unfamiliar animals. Detailed data on behaviour, physiology and reproduction were collected for each individual in the group /in an attempt to examine whether the way in which individuals responded to the social environment had consequences for measures of their welfare and productivity.

Responses to multiple chain enrichment in post weaned pigs

2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 124-124
Author(s):  
H C Benton ◽  
E C L Bleach
Keyword(s):  
Live Weight ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Social Stressors ◽  
Immunological Responses ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
The Social ◽  
Commercial Farms ◽  
Commercial Housing ◽  
Enriched Environments

The social stressors associated with the abrupt weaning process on commercial farms can result in significant welfare issues for pigs; including behavioural problems and aggression, decreased immunological responses, reduced live weight gain and efficiency of feed conversion (van de Weerd and Day, 2008). Slats and slurry systems in commercial housing systems for grower pigs provide a barren environment which may exacerbate these problems. Enriched environments have been shown to reduce aggression in pigs, particularly where devices that have manipulative and destructive properties are used (Scott et al, 2007). However, studies often include a single device that does not permit all animals to interact with the enrichment at any one time. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of multiple metal chain enrichment on levels of aggression in growing pigs.

Are aggressiveness and social status of group housed sows predictable from observations of earlier behaviour?

1993 ◽  
Vol 1993 ◽  
pp. 87-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Mendl
Keyword(s):  
Social Status ◽  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Time Consistency ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Individual Characteristic ◽  
Group Housing ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Induced Stress ◽  
General Decrease ◽  
Fundamental Understanding

The forthcoming UK ban on stall and tether housing for sows will result in an increase in the use of group housing for these animals. In group housing systems, certain individuals may be particularly aggressive or bullied by others, and this may result in injury or socially induced stress. To attempt to overcome these problems we need to know the answers to questions such as whether removal of a particularly aggressive animal from a group will result in a general decrease in aggression, or whether it will simply result in other animals becoming more aggressive. Answers to these sorts of question require a fundamental understanding of pig social behaviour and individual characteristics. For example, is aggressivness a stable individual characteristic across time and situation? This research addressed these issues by examining the cross-time consistency of individual aggressiveness and social status in groups of pigs.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document