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Farrowing pen size and maternal behaviour

Vermeer, H. M. (2022) Farrowing pen size and maternal behaviour. Wageningen Livestock Research, www.wur.nl/livestock-research (under Wageningen Livestock Research publications).

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Summary

Growing litter sizes with lower birth weights lead to more vulnerable newborn organic piglets. Combined with the free movement of the sow around parturition the risk of piglet mortality increases. A larger farrowing pen with more opportunities to perform nest building and maternal behaviour is a potential way for better care for the piglets. In this project we compared farrowing pens of 8 and 24 m² in order to improve natural behaviour (welfare) and survival of newborn piglets (welfare and economy).
Behaviour and performance of 60 sows and litters was studied on a commercial organic pig farm during 1.5 years. Video footage was recorded from 24 h before birth of the first piglet until 72 h after birth of the last piglet. Activity and postural changes of the sows, piglets and position of the nest were scored by scan sampling. Performance data was recorded by the pig farmer on a score sheet per sow.
As expected the sows showed and increased activity during the 12 h pre farrowing, but without any difference between the two pen sizes (see figure). However a qualitative assessment showed more sows with nest building behaviour (collecting straw) in the large pens. Risky body movements of the sow are a risk factor for piglet mortality (crushing). These postural changes did not differ between the two treatments. The piglet mortality was 7% lower in the larger pens (20 vs 13%; p=0.04), resulting in 10.1 vs 11.1 weaned piglets.
Figure. Proportion of activity per treatment per period around farrowing (no differences between treatments; differences between periods indicated by different superscripts)


EPrint Type:Report
Keywords:piglets, farrowing pen size, maternal behaviour
Agrovoc keywords:
Language
Value
URI
English
animal welfare
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_443
English
piglets
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_5872
English
farrowing pens
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_2812
English
maternal behaviour
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_12428
Subjects: Animal husbandry > Health and welfare
Animal husbandry > Production systems > Pigs
Research affiliation: European Union > CORE Organic > CORE Organic Cofund > POWER
Netherlands > Wageningen University & Research (WUR) > Animal Sciences Group ASG
Horizon Europe or H2020 Grant Agreement Number:727495
DOI:10.18174/xxxxxx
Deposited By: Nielsen, Department Anne Sofie
ID Code:43864
Deposited On:28 Jun 2022 12:29
Last Modified:01 Feb 2023 12:46
Document Language:English
Status:Unpublished
Refereed:Not peer-reviewed

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