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Aleryd Berg, Manda, 2014. Fixering av suggor – så påverkas välfärd och smågrisdödlighet. First cycle, G2E. Skara: SLU, Dept. of Animal Environment and Health

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Abstract

Piglet survival is a problem of great significance in pig production, affecting both animal welfare and economic aspects negatively. In Sweden it is illegal to use farrowing crates for sows on regular basis. To encounter this problem there is a proposal of an animal welfare program to allow the use of crates for sows during, and a number of days after, farrowing. The proposal aims to reduce piglet mortality and improve pig welfare. This present review aims to analyse how crating affects the welfare of sows, gilts and piglets as well as piglet mortality. The results shows that a lot of research have been done in the field, but studies on the effects of crating for a shorter period of time and under Swedish conditions are insufficient. Crating has a negative impact on sow welfare as it prevents the sow from preforming several natural behaviours. This concerns behaviours before, during, as well as after farrowing which indicates that crating even under a limited period around farrowing can reduce the welfare of sows. Regarding the welfare of piglets, crushing is more common when the sow is loose-housed in pens compared to when they are crated. Nevertheless other welfare problems accompany the use of crates, for example starvation and aggressive behaviour within the litter. Piglet mortality caused by other factors than crushing is however more common when the sow is crated compared with loose-hosed. Many factors seem to be involved in the problem on the subject of piglet mortality such as litter size, piglet vigour, environment, maternal care and caretaking routines. Some studies shows that crating does not affect the overall piglet mortality and this indicates that it is possible to accomplish low mortality rates with loose-housed sows. This review discuss the complexity of the use of crates and the need to find successful alternatives to be able to reduce piglet mortality without the use of crates, witch this review concludes, negatively affects the welfare of sows, gilts and piglets.

Main title:Fixering av suggor – så påverkas välfärd och smågrisdödlighet
Authors:Aleryd Berg, Manda
Supervisor:Loberg, Johan
Examiner:Algers, Bo
Series:Studentarbete / Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, Institutionen för husdjurens miljö och hälsa
Volume/Sequential designation:569
Year of Publication:2014
Level and depth descriptor:First cycle, G2E
Student's programme affiliation:VK002 Ethology and Animal Welfare - Bachelor's Programme 180 HEC
Supervising department:(VH) > Dept. of Animal Environment and Health
Keywords:djurskydd, välfärd, suggor, gyltor, kulting, spädgris, gris, sus scrofa, fixering, skyddsgrind, smågrisdödlighet, smågrisöverlevnad, inhysning, svin
URN:NBN:urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-3573
Permanent URL:
http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-3573
Subject. Use of subject categories until 2023-04-30.:Agriculture - General aspects
Language:Swedish
Deposited On:18 Aug 2014 11:48
Metadata Last Modified:18 Aug 2014 11:48

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