Theme 3: loose farrowing/how to optimize the farrowing process

ban the cage

eu legislation coming up

aim: improve sow welfare

risk: inreased piglet crusing, especially with high litter size

Current legislation

Currently mandatory in norway, swede, switzerland

EU: 2022:”welfar eog pigs on the farm, report from the efsa

NL 2021: humane livestock farming, adivsory report from the council on animal affairs

Welfare of pigs on the Farm - efsa report

space allowance for farrowing systems

• farrowing pens instead of farrowing crates

• 6.6 m2 for sow, 7.8m2 total pen size

geneticc selection → matenral behahaviour

effect of litters size

• should not exveed functional teats

• average number of 12-14 piglets born alive

  • low birth weight variation

fee farrowing leads to

higher piglet mortality → crushing

behaviour becomes crucial

EBVma piglet survival in crated and in free farrowing sows

EBVma also predicts survival in free farrowing sows

EBVma is related with piglet mortality

posture changes

proportion standing

loose/free farrowing

• increased piglet mortality is dependent on

litter size

sow maternal behaviour (pre+post farrowing)

pen: size, enrichment

room climate (Ipiglets must enter a piglet nest)

further research on role of reproductive hormones in sow maternal behaviuor

relations between ebvma and crushing in other ff environments

Maladaptive/manipulative behaviours

related with weaning condtions: flank biting/belly nosig

related with broedom: tail biting, ear biting, other manipulative

maladaptive e.g. belly nosing/sucking

what: rhytmic up and down movemetn at belle of other piglet

starts 3-5 dayhs after waning, peaks 2 weeks later

why: redirected suckling - postwean hunger strategy (stereotypic beahviour, coping strategy_

consequence: related with tail bitng behaviour during grow-=finish period

consequence of supoptimal preparation for weaning

early weaning

no nerichment in the sucklin period

no creep feed in the suckling period

more in piglets with low feed intake

belly nosing - weaning age

19 vs 28 days

• more belly nosing at 19 days vs 28 days

  • higher weight loss at 19 vs 28

Suckling, feeding and drinking motivation after weaning

suckling, feeding and drinking motivation after weaning

piglets weaned at young age:

• take longer to ingest feed

• drink excessively

• develop oral behaviours such as belly nosing/sucking

due to interaction between motivational systems for feeding, drinking and suckling

prewean/wean solutions

apart form weaning age

weaning management; minimise stress

stimulate feed intake during alctation

reducing weaning stess: socialising piglets

mixing piglest at weaning: agression, fighting → reduced feed intake and welfare

socialising piglets before weaning, might reduce stress at weaning and thereby affect postweaning behvaiuor and performance

reducing weaning stress - socialising piglets

experimetns

increases pre-wean fighting (probably dependent on age at socialising)

• fighting does not occur with crated sow, but in corridor, sow presence affects behaviour

reduces post-wean ifghitng and may imporve perforrmance

Introudction of more multilitter housing

lower damagin manipulative behavoiur

play behaviour is more

intermittent suckling and litter activity

piglet acticitgy is synchornised with sow presence

synchronisation is highest in group present from 14-2 hours and 2-8 hours

• was also associated with lower feed intake in this group

control: sow was always present\

is12: sow present from 20-8 hours

intermittent suckling with weaning at d28

improves feed intake nd lowers post-wean growth check if:

start at day 21

use at least one week

daily separation should be above 10h

periods of separation should be above 6 h

gradual adaptation to weaning

group lactation plus

was found higher weight gain, higher body weight

less tail dmage, less ear damage, less diarrhoea

less belly nosing, fewer skin lesions, less damaging oral manipulations

post-wean supportive environments

stimulate feed intake

• taste, smell appearance of food\

• stimulate drinking behaviour

  • bowler/nipple type

  • sow nursing sounds

• light schedule/time of weaning

reduce stress

• acquanted piglets

• reduce differences in pre and post wean environment e.g.

  • leave piglets in home pen after waning, specific stress free housing

  • use same feeding trough

    • take along jute sack

the weaning process at 3-4 weeks of age poses a

considerable challenge to piglets; it involves barupt and considerable changes in the social environemtn, feeding and housing

post=weaning porblems concern

health, welfare and performance are influienced by both the pre and post wean environment and the weaning porcess itself

major factors of influencea re

pre and postwean fed intake and the influience of several stressors around weaning

• influenced by many factors, e.g. age, weight, stress, pen design etc