The Influence of Housing-Systems for Pregnant Sows on the Reproductive Behaviour at Oestrus

Abstract The influence of confinement and group-housing of pregnant sows on the reproductive behaviour at oestrus was investigated at a commercial Danish pig farm. The group-housing system was well functioning with a low level of aggression. During oestrus the mating and oestrus behaviour of 16 sows from each housing-system was observed. In order to determine the causal relations to eventually differentiate between sows, the stress level in late pregnancy and at oestrus was measured, using a fear reaction test and plasma cortisol levels respectively. Two weeks after oestrus a social response test where each sow was exposed to an unknown gilt was carried out. The oestrous behaviour was detected 0.5 days earlier in the group-housed sows than in the confined sows. This was mainly due to differences in the sows' reaction towards humans rather than to differences in stress level between the sows. The social response test indicated that older confined sows had a low social experience which may have influenced t...

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