Abstract
A Sow-Welfare-Optimized-Feeding (SWOF) system with group-adapted ad libitum liquid feeding was developed to ensure that both optimal nutritional and behavioral needs are met in group-housed pregnant sows. This system comprises functional areas and allows sows to have either a low- or high-energy diet according to their current weight in relation to their parity. This field study aimed to investigate how this new system influences sows’ body weight, health status (lameness), aggression parameters (integument injuries, vulva injuries, and displacements at the trough), feed intake rhythm, and litter performance. In parallel, these parameters were also recorded in the existing system (group-housed sows restrictively fed a dry diet). In the SWOF system, the probability of displacements at the trough and occurrence of vulva injuries were reduced, whereas sows could follow a natural biphasic feed intake rhythm. Though lameness scores and litter performance were not affected, lower body weights and more integument injuries were, however, observed. Yet, results can only partially be attributed to the feeding system per se due to confounding effects such as management practices and group size differences (larger dynamic group vs. stable group). Hence, the SWOF system seems promising with regard to animal welfare but remains to be further validated.
Highlights
According to the EU/directive 2001/88/EC, pregnant sows must be kept in groups from the 29th day of gestation until 7 days before the calculated farrowing date
Sows in the SWOF system consumed on average of 4.67 ± 2.14 kg of dry matter (DM)/sow/day in feeding area A and 4.52 ± 2.03 kg of DM/sow/day in feeding area B, whereas sows in the existing system consumed on average of 2.54 ± 0.23 kg of DM/sow/day
When looking at the mean values, it can be graphically seen that sows that can freely access the troughs have an activity peak bbeettwweeeenn 88 aa..mm.. aanndd1100 aa..mm.. ((ffeeeeddiinnggaarreeaa AA)) oorr 6 a.m. aanndd 1100 a.m. ((ffeeeeddiinngg aarreeaa B) and aannootthheerr ppeeaakk bbeettwweeeenn 22 pp..mm.. aanndd44pp..mm..((FFiigguurree33aa,bb)). The aim of this field study was to evaluate the performance and welfare aspects of sows under a newly developed Sow-Welfare-Optimized-Feeding system (SWOF; i.e., a group-adapted ad libitum liquid feeding system) for group-housed pregnant sows, and to determine whether this system is advantageous compared to the existing system
Summary
According to the EU/directive 2001/88/EC, pregnant sows must be kept in groups from the 29th day of gestation until 7 days before the calculated farrowing date. The main feeding systems for pregnant sows used in Germany during the time of group housing are the restrictive electronic sow-feeding stations (32%) and self-locking feeders (27%) [2]. These conventional feeding systems do not meet the requirements for a good welfare. Restrictive feeding with an animal-feeding place ratio of 1:1 enables a natural synchronous feeding of sows. An alternative would be the ad libitum feeding of pregnant sows. Ad libitum feeding enables synchronous feeding and a natural biphasic feeding rhythm of the sows [6,7,8]. An ad libitum supply of feed can lead to excessive feed intake and weight gain [4,5,13]
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