Effect of continuous access to feeding stalls during mixing on behavior, welfare, and performance of group-housed gestating sows in different social ranks

2016 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 386-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lihua H. Wang ◽  
Yuzhi Z. Li
Keyword(s):  
Social Rank ◽  
Skin Lesions ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Group Housing ◽  
Aggressive Interactions ◽  
High Ranking ◽  
Continuous Access ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Reduced Frequency ◽  
And Performance

This study was conducted to evaluate a strategy of using feeding stalls to protect low-ranking sows in group-housing systems. Sows (n = 150, parity 1–9) were mixed at weaning in pens of 15 sows. Control pens allowed sows to access feeding stalls for 1 h of feeding daily during the initial 2 d after mixing. Treatment pens allowed sows to access feeding stalls continuously. Social rank was determined based on outcomes of aggressive interactions among sows after mixing. Low-ranking sows used the feeding stalls more frequently (P < 0.01) than high-ranking sows during the initial 6 h after mixing. Continuous stall access reduced frequency of aggressive interactions (P = 0.05) and, consequently, reduced skin lesions (P = 0.05) of sows in the pen. Neither continuous access to stalls nor social rank affected performance of sows. These results suggest that low-ranking sows used feeding stalls as hiding spaces to escape from aggressive interactions during mixing, which reduced skin lesions caused by aggression and improved the welfare of sows in the group-housing system studied.

scholarly journals Effects of Different Housing Systems during Suckling and Rearing Period on Skin and Tail Lesions, Tail Losses and Performance of Growing and Finishing Pigs

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2184
Author(s):  
Anita Lange ◽  
Michael Hahne ◽  
Christian Lambertz ◽  
Matthias Gauly ◽  
Michael Wendt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skin Lesions ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Finishing Pigs ◽  
Group Housing ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Tail Biting ◽  
Tail Docking ◽  
Lactating Sows ◽  
Fattening Period ◽  
And Performance

Feasible alternatives to stressful weaning and tail-docking are needed to inhibit tail biting. Therefore, we investigated the effects of housing systems for 1106 pigs that were weaned from: (1) conventional farrowing crates (FC), (2) free-farrowing pens (FF), or (3) group housing of lactating sows (GH) into (1) conventional rearing pens (Conv) or (2) piglets remained in their farrowing pens for rearing (Reaf). Tails were docked or left undocked batchwise. All pigs were regrouped for the fattening period. Pigs were scored for skin lesions, tail lesions and losses. After weaning, Conv-GH pigs had significantly less skin lesions than Conv-FC and Conv-FF pigs. After regrouping for fattening, Reaf-GH pigs had significantly less skin lesions than Conv pigs, Reaf-FC and Reaf-FF. The frequency of tail lesions of undocked Conv pigs peaked in week 4 (66.8%). Two weeks later, Reaf undocked pigs reached their maximum (36.2%). At the end of fattening, 99.3% of undocked Conv pigs and 43.1% of undocked Reaf pigs lost parts of their tail. In conclusion, the co-mingling of piglets during suckling reduced the incidence of skin lesions. Rearing in the farrowing pen significantly reduced the incidence of tail lesions and losses for undocked pigs. No housing system negatively affected the performance.

scholarly journals Prevalence and risk factors of claw lesions and lameness in pregnant sows in two types of group housing

2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 101-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Pluym ◽  
A. Van Nuffel ◽  
J. Dewulf ◽  
A. Cools ◽  
F. Vangroenweghe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Economic Loss ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Group Housing ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Individual Housing ◽  
Claw Lesions ◽  
Locomotor Disorders

Claw lesions and lameness in sows are an important welfare concern as well as a cause of considerable economic loss. These problems are more common in group housing than in individual housing systems. Given that group housing for gestating sows will become mandatory in the EU from 2013 onwards, the aim of the present study was: (1) to determine the prevalence of lameness and claw lesions in sows housed in groups during gestation, and (2) to analyze whether the type of group housing system and sow-related factors were associated with lameness and claw lesions. Eight Belgian pig herds with group housing of gestating sows were selected. Four herds used pens with electronic sow feeders (dynamic groups), the other four herds kept their sows in free access stalls (static groups). All sows were visually examined for lameness at the end of gestation. Claw lesions were scored after parturition. Information about feed, housing conditions and culling (strategy) was collected, as well as information about parity and breed. Of all 421 assessed sows, on average 9.7% (min. 2.4%, max. 23.1%) were lame. Almost 99% of the sows had one or more claw lesion with overgrowth of heel horn (93%) and cracks in the wall (52%) as the most prevalent lesions. Neither for lameness nor claw lesions was significant differences found between the two types of group housing. Lameness decreased while the mean claw lesion score increased with ageing. These results suggest that lameness can be caused by reasons other than claw lesions, especially in older sows. Although no difference was found between the two types of group housing, a huge variation between herds was observed. Moreover, as the prevalence of lameness and claw lesions in group housing is quite high and group housing will become mandatory in 2013, further investigation on risk factors of locomotor disorders in sows is necessary.

Effects of food level on performance and behaviour of sows in a dynamic group-housing system with electronic feeding

1997 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 473-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. A. M. Spoolder ◽  
J. A. Burbidge ◽  
S. A. Edwards ◽  
A. B. Lawrence ◽  
P. H. Simmins
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Skin Lesions ◽  
Observation Time ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Food Level ◽  
Feeding System ◽  
Skin Damage ◽  
Damage Score ◽  
Aggressive Interactions ◽  
Dynamic Group

AbstractEvidence from studies of group-housed sows in unbedded systems indicates that hunger may be a cause of increased aggression between animals. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of food level on performance, aggression and skin damage in a deep-straw system. Sixteen groups offive gilts were introduced over 8 months to one of two dynamic groups in a deep-straw yard (2·35 m2 per sow) receiving different food levels from an electronic sow-feeding system: high (H: 3·0 kg and 38 MJ/day) and low (L: 1·6 kg and 20 MJ/day). Seventy second-parity sows were returned to the same treatments in the same subgroups. The behaviour of the animals was recorded throughout both pregnancies using a time sampling technique. Severity of skin damage was recorded as a number from 0 to 4 for each of nine areas, the average of which being the ‘damage score’. The total number of animals in each dynamic group was maintained at around 30, through the use of additional sows. As expected, H sows were heavier than L sows but no effect offood treatment was found on litter size or performance. L sows were more active (L v. H; standing: 41 v. 31% of total observation time respectively, F114 = 7·65, P < 0·05) and showed more straw manipulation than H sows (L v. H: 17 v. 10% respectively, F 3 34 = 18·4, P < 0·001). No differences between treatments were found either in number of aggressive interactions (L v. H: 3·6 v. 3·8 interactions per sow per observation day, F, u = 0·82, P > 0·05), or in damage score (L v. H: 0·24 v. 0·28; Flu = 0·27; P > 0·05).However, introduction of new animals did influence aggression, with sows being more involved in aggressive interactions on the day they were introduced, than on other sow's introduction days and on no introduction days (Tukey, P < 0·05). Average skin lesions per experimental sow were also higher in the days immediately following introduction. It can be concluded that in a sequential feeding system with plentiful straw, aggression is not influenced by the level offeeding. In these systems, the major factor giving rise to aggression is the introduction of new sows to the resident group.

scholarly journals Liegeverhalten von Pferden in Gruppenauslaufhaltung

2000 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-336
Author(s):  
M. H. Zeitler-Feicht ◽  
V. Prantner
Keyword(s):  
Social Rank ◽  
Lateral Position ◽  
The Other ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Free Range ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Lower Rank ◽  
Resting Behaviour ◽  
Higher Rank ◽  
The One

Abstract. Titel of the paper: Recumbence resting behaviour of horses in loose housing Systems with open yards Recumbence resting behaviour was investigated in 48 horses in four loose housing Systems with open yards subdivided in areas for feeding, recumbence and for free range. Continuous observations were made for each loose housing system on three independent days during a 24-hr period. In all housing Systems the horses chose exclusively the area of recumbence to rest in sternal or lateral position. On the one hand the dimension of the area of recumbence influenced we recumbence resting behaviour. In the fourth housing system the insufftcient recumbence area reduced the resting time. At the other hand the time of recumbence was dependent on social rank. The animals with lower rank showed a significant shorter recumbence time than the horses with higher rank. However the frequency of recumbence was similar in all horses independent of stable, social rank and age. The results clearly show, that the dimension of the area of recumbence as the only parameter is not enough to satisfy the demand of recumbence in all horses.

scholarly journals A review of sow and piglet behaviour and performance in group housing systems for lactating sows

animal ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 448-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.E. van Nieuwamerongen ◽  
J.E. Bolhuis ◽  
C.M.C. van der Peet-Schwering ◽  
N.M. Soede
Keyword(s):  
Group Housing ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Lactating Sows ◽  
And Performance

Sow behaviour and welfare in voluntary cubicle pens (small static groups) and split-yard systems (large dynamic groups)

2002 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.L. Durrell ◽  
I.A. Sneddon ◽  
V.E. Beattie ◽  
D.J. Kilpatrick
Keyword(s):  
Skin Lesion ◽  
Physical Environment ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Group Housing ◽  
Skin Damage ◽  
Agonistic Interactions ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Dynamic Group ◽  
Social And Physical Environment ◽  
Observation Period

AbstractThe welfare of sows kept in two different group housing systems, namely voluntary cubicle pens housing small static groups and a split-yard housing system housing a large dynamic group, were examined. Each week, four newly weaned sows were introduced into either a voluntary cubicle pen or the split-yard system, with a total of eight groups of four sows introduced into each system. Behavioural and skin lesion data were recorded during the sows’ first 5 weeks in either system. Agonistic behaviours were performed more frequently during week 1 than in subsequent weeks in both housing systems (P < 0001). Sows in the voluntary cubicle pens spent more time standing inactive (P < 0001) and spent less time in exploratory (P < 005) and locomotory (P < 001) behaviours. However, sows in the split-yard system had higher skin lesion scores (P < 001) and engaged in more social (P < 005) and agonistic interactions (P < 005). These agonistic interactions included attacks (P < 005) and fleeing (P < 0001) throughout the 5-week observation period and fighting (P < 0001) during week 1 only. The split-yard system, therefore, appeared to offer sows a more stimulating social and physical environment than the voluntary cubicle pens, but also led to higher levels of aggression and skin damage. Both housing systems, therefore, appear to compromise sow welfare in different ways.

scholarly journals The Impact of Grouping on Skin Lesions and Meat Quality of Pig Carcasses

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bert Driessen ◽  
Sanne Van Beirendonck ◽  
Johan Buyse
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Social Rank ◽  
Skin Lesions ◽  
Mixed Group ◽  
Comparable Amount ◽  
Aggressive Interactions ◽  
Pig Farm ◽  
Pig Carcasses ◽  
The Impact

In practice, unfamiliar pigs are frequently mixed prior to loading in order to obtain groups of uniform weight and to adjust the group size to the dimensions of the trailer compartments. Mixing pigs induces aggressive interactions to establish a new social rank. Fighting results in skin lesions and pre-slaughter stress and, in turn, reduced meat quality. A study was performed to compare the effect of non-regrouping and regrouping at fattening (at 80 kg and kept till slaughter), loading and lairage. A total of 1332 pigs were included over 30 transports from one pig farm to one slaughterhouse (110 km). Skin lesions were determined on 1314 carcasses. Meat quality was measured on 620 pigs. The non-regrouped pigs had fewer skin lesions and better meat quality than the pigs regrouped at loading or in lairage. Pigs mixed at 80 kg at the farm had, in general, a comparable amount of skin lesions and comparable meat quality as the non-mixed group. If mixing is unavoidable, due to large within-group weight variations, mixing at 80 kg can be an alternative to reduce skin lesions at slaughter and to optimise meat quality.

177 Quantifying Cortisol in Hair as a Chronic Stress Biomarker in Group-housed and Stall-housed Sows During Gestation

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Talia Everding ◽  
Crystal L Levesque ◽  
Yolande Seddon ◽  
Jorge Y Perez-Palencia
Keyword(s):  
Random Effect ◽  
Cortisol Concentration ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Group Housing ◽  
Hair Cortisol ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Treatment Interaction ◽  
The Right ◽  
Main Effects ◽  
System Time

Abstract The objective of the study was to determine hair cortisol concentrations in sows in two different housing systems. Sows (n = 66, parity 0–6) were housed at the SDSU sow facility and assigned to one of two housing systems, stalls (STL) or group pens (PEN). The STL sows (n = 34) were housed in gestation stalls from breeding until d111 ± 1.1 of gestation; PEN sows (n = 32) were moved to 3 pens approximately 24 h after breeding in a dynamic group sow housing system. All females were housed in stalls at least 5d prior to breeding. All sows were moved to farrowing crates at approximately d111 of gestation. Hair was shaved from the right hip within 5d of breeding (defined as d0). At d37, d74, and d111 of gestation the same area was shaved and hair collected; samples from d37 and d111 were analyzed for cortisol. In the statistical model, main effects of housing system, time, and their interactions were tested with parity as random effect. Sows were later assigned a parity group [0–1 (n = 23), 2–3 (n = 17), and 4–6 (n = 26)] to assess the interactions between parity and treatment. There was a treatment by parity interaction (P &lt; 0.05) where parity 0–1 STL group had higher cortisol (75.6 pg/mg) than parity 0–1 PEN group (24.2 pg/mg) and no effect of housing on parity 2–3 and 4–6 groups. Across parity, STL sows had greater (P &lt; 0.05) overall hair cortisol than PEN sows (49.4 vs 19.8 ± 8.0 pg/mg hair). Hair cortisol concentration tended to be lower (P = 0.06) at d37 than d111 (29.4 vs 39.8 ± 8.0 pg/mg) and no time by treatment interaction was observed. These results suggest that young sows experience greater stress in individual stall housing than in group housing and that cortisol increases with progressing gestation regardless of housing system.

scholarly journals Alternative and enriched housing systems for breeding does: a review

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
ZS. Szendrő ◽  
J.I. McNitt ◽  
ZS. Matics ◽  
A. Mikó ◽  
ZS. Gerencsér
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Group Housing ◽  
Semi Group ◽  
Alternative Housing ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Dutch Housing ◽  
Positive Results

The main results and observations on group and individually housed rabbit does were reviewed by Szendrő and McNitt in 2012, but in recent years several new papers in this field have been published. This provides a new opportunity to summarise the current knowledge on alternative housing systems for breeding does. In Switzerland, rabbit does are generally housed in group systems. The recently legislated Belgian and Dutch housing systems will be converted step by step into group housing systems. Recent research demonstrated that with semi-group housing systems much better performance levels are possible than with the Swiss group housing system. However, solutions to eliminate aggression, stress and injuries which are common among rabbit does in group housing systems have yet to be found. Some authors are of the opinion that individual cages are too small and allow limited possibilities for movement and social contact. Positive results were seen when platforms were inserted into the cages and the possibility for movement increased. The does and their kits could jump up and down using the platforms. Using footrests, the incidence of sore hocks declined. Several environmental enrichments which increase the well-being of rabbit does can also be used. These enriched cages (equipped with platforms, footrests, gnawing sticks, etc.) are fully in line with animal welfare requirements. Increasing the size of cages and enriching them increases the production cost and the meat will be more expensive.

scholarly journals Effect of rank, group size and number of group changes ante partum on the occurrence of milk ejection disorders in primiparous cows – a field study

2011 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 580-593
Author(s):  
K. Heidig ◽  
S. Geidel ◽  
O. Kaufmann
Keyword(s):  
Field Study ◽  
Group Size ◽  
Rank Order ◽  
Social Rank ◽  
Low Rank ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Group Housing ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Milk Ejection ◽  
Rank Group

Abstract. In the present study causes for the development of milk ejection disorders (MED) in primiparous cows of two herds were investigated. We hypothesised that MED are provoked by social problems within the herd that appear close to calving. Data were collected on 67 heifers of herd A and 60 heifers of herd B. In herd A, heifers were introduced into existing groups of cows 2–4 weeks prior to calving. They were kept in a group housing system with deep bedding. All animals were hornless. In herd B, heifers were kept separated from the cows from 2–4 weeks a.p. in a three-row cubicle barn. In contrast to herd A, all animals had horns. The animals´ reactions regarding the milking process and MED were analysed during the first four milkings p.p. We evaluated the correlation between social rank, group size and frequency of group changes in the antepartal period and the occurrence of MED. 12 % of the animals in herd A and 47 % of the animals in herd B showed MED. In herd A, lowranking heifers had significantly more often MED than higher-ranking heifers. A correlation between low rank, increasing strain due to rank order fights and increasing frequency of MED can be assumed here. In herd B, a correlation between stocking rate and frequency of MED could be observed.

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