The effect of management strategies and parity on the behaviour and physiology of gestating sows housed in an electronic sow feeding system

How group housed sows are managed can have an impact on their welfare during gestation. The present study examined the effects of housing management (static vs. dynamic), stage of gestation at introduction, familiarity within the group, and age of sow on some aspects of the behaviour and physiology of sows in an electronic sow feeding system. Eight groups were introduced into either a static or dynamic management system. Within an introduction group, 21 to 23 focal sows were selected based upon their stage of gestation (pre vs. post-implantation), familiarity with groupmates (familiar vs. unfamiliar) and parity [young (1st parity) vs. intermediate (2nd and 3rd parity) vs. old (4th parity and higher)]. The aggression at mixing, aggression at the feeder, injuries, feeder entry order, lying patterns, and salivary cortisol concentrations were recorded. There were no differences in the behaviour or physiology of sows housed in either housing management system, or based upon familiarity. Sows mixed post-implant...

[1]  Paul H. Hemsworth,et al.  THE EFFECT OF INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP HOUSING ON BEHAVIOURAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES RELATED TO THE WELFARE OF PREGNANT PIGS , 1985 .

[2]  Sandra A. Edwards,et al.  Social rank and feeding behaviour of group-housed sows fed competitively or ad libitum , 1994 .

[3]  M. Appleby,et al.  A comprehensive review of housing for pregnant sows. , 2005, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

[4]  V. E. Beattie,et al.  Sow behaviour and welfare in voluntary cubicle pens (small static groups) and split-yard systems (large dynamic groups) , 2002 .

[5]  J. Eddison,et al.  Assessment of the injuries sustained by pregnant sows housed in groups using electronic feeders , 1998, Veterinary Record.

[6]  K. Brüssow,et al.  Agonistic interactions and physiological reactions of top- and bottom-ranking pigs confronted with a familiar and an unfamiliar group: Preliminary results , 1997 .

[7]  D. S Arey,et al.  Time course for the formation and disruption of social organisation in group-housed sows , 1999 .

[8]  B. Puppe.  Effects of familiarity and relatedness on agonistic pair relationships in newly mixed domestic pigs , 1998 .

[9]  Leena Anil,et al.  Effect of group size and structure on the welfare and performance of pregnant sows in pens with electronic sow feeders. , 2006, Canadian journal of veterinary research = Revue canadienne de recherche veterinaire.

[10]  E. Olfert,et al.  Guide to the care and use of experimental animals , 1993 .

[11]  V. E. Beattie,et al.  Influence of Social Status on the Welfare of Sows in Static and Dynamic Groups , 2003, Animal Welfare.

[12]  P. Jensen.  An ethogram of social interaction patterns in group-housed dry sows , 1980 .

[13]  J. Stookey,et al.  Recognition in swine: recognition through familiarity or genetic relatedness? , 1998 .

[14]  Dominance relationships between sows dependent on the time interval between separation and reunion , 2005 .

[15]  B. Misson,et al.  Changes in pig salivary cortisol in response to transport simulation, food and water deprivation, and mixing. , 1989, The British veterinary journal.

[16]  N. C. Mount,et al.  A study of aggression when group housed sows are mixed , 1993 .

[17]  P. Lepage,et al.  Radioimmunoassay for Cortisol in Pig Saliva and Serum , 1997 .

[18]  Sandra A. Edwards,et al.  Effects of food level on performance and behaviour of sows in a dynamic group-housing system with electronic feeding , 1997 .

[19]  M. Meunier-Salaün,et al.  Assessment of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and sympathetic nervous system activity in pregnant sows through the measurement of glucocorticoids and catecholamines in urine. , 2000, Journal of animal science.