Effects of pregnancy and lactation environments on maternal performance of primiparous sows during lactation

Abstract

Loose house systems are being positively promoted in modern swine industry. While gestation crates have gradually been replaced by gestation pens, most farrowing and lactation sows are still restricted in crates. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different pregnancy environments and the combined effect of pregnancy and lactation environments on maternal behaviours of sows by rearing 12 gilts in three types of housing systems during pregnancy and lactation. All sows were videotaped for 3 days pre-and 28 days post-parturition. Maternal behaviors of sows, including prepartum nest-building behavior, postural changes, and nursing behavior, were recorded continuously. Additionally, the responsiveness of sows to piglets' screams was scored. Overall, sows in the gestation pens and farrowing pens combined (PP) group reached the peak of nest-building behaviour first among all 3 groups and showed a longer duration of nest-building behaviour than did the gestation pens and farrowing crates combined (PC) group (P < 0.01). The gestation crates and farrowing crates combined (CC) group performed a significantly higher frequency of nursing behaviour, more piglet crushing postural changes and higher percentage of sow-terminated nursing, when compared with the PC group (P < 0.05). Gestational environment had no effect on sow response to piglet screams. In conclusion, farrowing pens increase the expression of prepartum nest-building behaviour, and sows in the CC housing system showed increased piglet crushing postural changes and reduced willingness to nurse while those in the PC housing system showed reduced frequency of successful nursing.