SEARCH
Industry Partners
Prairie Swine Centre is an affiliate of the University of Saskatchewan
Prairie Swine Centre is grateful for the assistance of the George Morris Centre in developing the economics portion of Pork Insight.
Financial support for the Enterprise Model Project and Pork Insight has been provided by:
Managing Sows in Groups from Weaning: Are there Advantages
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Prairie Swine Centre, Production by student on June 19, 2018
Author: Yolande Seddon and Jennifer Brown
Publication: Centred on Swine, Winter 2016 Volume 22 Number 2
Summary:
With growing consumer and retailer pressure to limit the utilization of confinement, gestation stalls have been banned in many parts of the world. The question is, with these limitations on stall use have implications for sow fertility and production or could this be advantageous.
This study compared three different times of group housing for sows: Early mixing (directly after weaning), Late Mixing (mixed at five weeks gestation) and pre-socialization (mixed for two days after weaning then stall housed until five weeks gestation).
Measurements were taken for sow aggression, welfare and reproductive performance, and salivary cortisol levels.
In conclusion, they determined that welfare was not significantly affected by the mixing treatments. Grouping sows at weaning is a viable option with correct conditions and management. Grouping sows at weaning appeared to display production advantages indicated by improved conception rates and reduced stillborns.
More work is needed with regards to this hypothesis as the same results may not be evident in a group feeding system where sows are forced to cope with a higher level of competition.
Managing Sows in Groups Post Weaning – Are there Advantages