Abstract
ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproductive performance of sows in individual stalls (Stall) or group-housed into groups on days 3 to 5 (Pen5) or 38 to 42 (Pen42) after breeding. The reproductive data was collected from the operating system of the farm establishing the average of the weekly performances of the sows that gave birth, for four years, except for the Pen5 system, which was evaluated for three years. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS®, using MIXED (for quantitative traits), NPAR1WAY (for categorical traits) and LOGISTIC (binomial traits) procedures, using sows as a repeated measure. Sows in Stall system had piglets with higher birth weight them sows in the group-housed system (P<0.05), however the piglets born alive, total piglets weaned, average litter weight, and duration of farrowing were lower in this system than in the group-housed (P<0.0001). There was no difference between Pen5 and Stall systems for gestation period and mummified piglets. The Pen42 system had a higher percentage of mummified piglets and a shorter gestation period, when compared Pen5 and Stall systems (P<0.0001), and similar results to the Pen5 system for duration of farrowing, piglets born alive, stillbirths, total piglets weaned, average litter weight and birth weight (P<0.0001).
Highlights
Large-scale swine production in collective housing systems is a recent practice and there are many doubts as to the best management practices to adopt within this system, as well as the system interference on reproductive parameters
The Pen42 system had a higher percentage of mummified piglets and a shorter gestation period, when compared pens to 5 days after breeding (Pen5) and Stall systems (P
Sows in Pen42 system had higher number of piglets weaned per sow per year (31.78 versus 29.70), total weaned (12.84 versus12.20), total piglets born (15.63 versus 15.23), piglets born alive (14.01 versus 13.52), farrowing rate (92.61 versus 91.73%), weaning weight (6.43 versus 5.70kg), and lower stillbirths (6.91 versus 7.41%), birth weight (1.35 versus 1.38kg) and death at weaning (6.82 versus 9.96) than in the Stall system (Table 2)
Summary
Large-scale swine production in collective housing systems is a recent practice and there are many doubts as to the best management practices to adopt within this system, as well as the system interference on reproductive parameters. The indication of the Directive 2008/120/EC of the European Union to reduce the risk of abortion or embryonic absorption is rearing pregnant sows in collective pens during the period comprising the four weeks after insemination, and the seven days before the expected date of farrowing (The Council..., 2009). Organogenesis, the implantation of the embryos occurs equitably in the uterine horns due to the migration of the eggs until their nesting that occurs around 17 to 24 days after the fertilization During this period, the most important tissues, organs and systems of the organism are formed (Alvarenga et al, 2013). Group-housing should occur before or after this period
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