Alternative Gestation Housing for Sows:Reproductive Performance, Welfare and Economic Efficiency
Increasingly, the global expectation is that gestating sows will be kept in group-housing alternatives to gestation stalls.Unlike stall housing, there are many options available for grouphousing, each with strengths and limitations.It has become apparent from research and experience that success with group housing is dependent on key features and management of any given system that can provide adequate individualized feeding and minimal distress.Therefore key concepts for group housing focus on feed delivery systems, quantity and quality of space, strategies for mixing sows into groups, the ability to attend to individual sows and stockmanship.In concert, these factors will impact reproductive performance, sow welfare and economic efficiency.Although conflicting results can be found in the literature, overall it can be concluded that compared to stall housing, reproductive performance is not reduced in wellmanaged group-housing systems.The assessment of animal welfare is confounded by different,but overlapping concepts of what constitutes good welfare.However, it is clear that sow wellbeing is dependent on pen-environments and management strategies that minimize aggression,pain and long-term distress.Particular attention is directed towards flooring quality and lameness as impacting welfare as well as economic efficiency.Well-trained, compassionate stockpeople are a fundamental component of ensuring animal well-being and system success.The operational factors involved in economic efficiency of sow group-housing are fundamentally the same as with stall housing, though initial capital investment will differ from system to system.
Sow group-housing loose housing welfare in group-housing sow productivity
Laurie Connor
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences,University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
国际会议
The 2015 International Symposium on Animal Environment and Welfare(动物环境和福利国际研讨会)
重庆
英文
278-285
2015-10-23（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）