Housing system during pregnancy on behavior, reproductive and health parameters of sows

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether behavior, reproductive and health parameters could differ between sows housed individually throughout gestation (Stall) or group-housed on days 3 to 5 (Pen5) or 38 to 42 (Pen42) after insemination. After insemination, 198 sows of a same commercial farm were randomly allocated to one of three housing treatments, namely Stall, Pen5 and Pen42 systems. There was interaction between the housing system and gestation time on behavior parameters. The prevalence of active sows was higher in the Stall system than in group-housing. Stall system sows displayed marked exploratory behavior than the sows in Pen5 system. Sows in Stall system showed lower prevalence of health disorders such as vulva and body lesions and manure on the body, but higher prevalence of rectal prolapse and constipation than group-housed sows. Sows in Pen42 system showed higher rates of live piglets at birth, total piglets born and shorter gestation period than sows in Stall System. Lower number of mummified fetuses and larger number of stillbirths and stillbirths type 2, were associated to sows in Pen5 system. Sows in Pen5 system presented a reduction in health problems such as rectal prolapse and bursitis and skin inflammation as well as colds, decreased the stress level of the sows that showed greater expression of positive social behavior and decreased stereotypic behaviors, as well as maintained the reproductive parameters similar to those in individual stalls.