Sow postural changes, responsiveness to piglet screams, and their impact on piglet mortality in pens and crates

MELIŠOVÁ, Michala., ILLMANNOVÁ, Gudrun., CHALOUPKOVÁ, Helena a BOZDĚCHOVÁ, Barbora. Sow postural changes, responsiveness to piglet screams, and their impact on piglet mortality in pens and crates. Journal of Animal Science, 2014, 92, 3064-3072. ISSN 0021-8812.
Kateg. publikaceVědecké publikace impaktované
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Abstrakt

Free farrowing pens (pens) improve the welfare of sows but may increase sow activity and negatively influence piglet production. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of pens and crates on sow postural changes, piglet trapping, sow responses to piglet screams, piglet mortality, and piglet BW gain. It was predicted that provision of greater space (in pens) would increase not only the frequency of sow postural changes and the probability of trapping but also sow responses to the screams of piglets, thus, the outcome would be no differences in fatal piglet crushing or overall mortality between the housing systems. Sow behavior was recorded and analyzed for 72 h from the birth of the first piglet.Sow postural changes included rolling from a ventral to lateral position and vice versa and going from standing to sitting, standing to lying, and sitting to lying. Occurrences of piglet trapping and sow responsiveness to real crushing situations were analyzed. Sow responsiveness was assessed in response to audio playbacks of piglet screams on d 3 postpartum and real piglet crushing during the first 72 h. Piglet BW gain was estimated 24 h after BFP, piglet BW was recorded at weaning, and piglet crushing and piglet mortality were recorded during the 72 h after BFP. Data were analyzed. Sows in pens showed more postural changes and tended to have greater incidences of piglet trapping than those in crates. Sow response to PB crush calls was greater in pens but did not differ for real crush calls between pens and crates. There was no effect on the probability of piglet and during the 72 h after BFP nor in piglet mortality at weaning between pens and crates. Piglet BW gain at 24 h after BFP (P = 0.01) and piglet BW at weaning were greater in pens. Sows in pens showed more postural changes and tended to trap more piglets, however, the response to real crush calls did not differ between the two housing systems.

ProjektRozvoj hospodářských zvířat v multifunkčním zemědělství
OdděleníEtologie