Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

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.