Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Housing and management of gilts and sows during breeding and gestation can affect animal welfare, stress and aggression. This study aimed to map how gilts and sows are housed and managed during this period within Swedish pig production.
The study was based on interviews with farmers and personnel from 33 Swedish pig farms. The results showed that many farms used more than one housing ystem between breeding and farrowing. Of the 31 farms, 20 moved their animals one or more times. However, movement did not always involve mixing with unfamiliar individuals, as several farms tried to keep groups stable. Gilts were most often housed separately in gilts groups or together with young or small sows.
Common strategies to reduce aggression included provision of straw, placing whole straw bales in the pen at mixing events, sorting animals by size or body condition, keeping stable groups, feeding available when moved into a new pen at and access to feeding stalls. The results indicate that many farms follow advisory recommendations, but that routines vary depending on each farm’s practical conditions.