Effects of alternative farrowing systems on sow productivity and piglet growth and mortality

摘要

Public concerns about sow welfare have driven recent legislative and marketplace initiatives that will limit gestation stall usage in the future. Farrowing crates present similar welfare challenges as gestation stalls because they restrict a sow's ability to move and express natural behavior. However, concerns for sow welfare need to be balanced with the welfare considerations of the piglets. A better understanding of sow and piglet perfotmance in alternative farrowing systems promises to aid in making housing decisions that best address both sow and piglet welfare. Thus, our objective was to compare sow productivity and piglet growth and mortality across 3 different farrowing systems.