Behaviour and performance of sows in farrowing nests

Abstract

The behavioural response of sows and gilts accommodated in groups of up to 6, in two rooms of farrowing nests was observed at the West Sussex College of Agriculture and Horticulture. A split-plot experiment was carried out at three levels: ( 1 ) room (north/south); (2) season (winter/summer); (3) week of sow occupancy (before and 1, 2 and 3 weeks after parturition ). The sows were grouped according to normal commercial practice with farrowing dates matched as closely as possible. Inevitably sows farrowed in both Weeks 0 and 1. No attempt was made to balance animals for age or behavioural profile. Observations for sow position, posture and activity were recorded every 10 min over 53 4-h periods. Additional data collected included time sows spent out of nests and frequency of feeder visits. Sow performance was assessed from litter data for all sows farrowing in both the nests and a crate system between 1 August and 31 December. (Number of litters= 110. ) The most frequently observed position, posture and activity of the sow was in the nests ( 76% of observations), lying down (67%) and inactive (70%), respectively. Week of sow occupancy had a significant effect on the number of feeder visits made by sows (P < 0.05 ) with more feeder visits being made during the second week. In the north room sows spent a greater proportion of their time in the nests during the winter (95 vs. 64%) but this was not repeated in the south room. There was no difference between nests and crates in number born alive or in number weaned. Survival rate for August was higher for the litters in nests, but there were no differences observed in other months.