Abstract
This study examined the effects of housing groups of adult female pigs (6 pigs per group) with a space allowance of 1, 2 or 3 m 2 per pig on sexual behaviour and welface status, determined by plasma free-corticosteroid concentrations. A lower percentage of gilts was detected in oestrus and a lower percentage of gilts was mated when housed with a space allowance of 1 m 2 per gilt than with a space allowance of either 2 or 3 m 2 per gilt (oestrus detection rate of 79, 88 and 100%, respectively, and a mating rate of 77, 85 and 97%, respectively). There was a significant increase in plasma free-corticosteroid concentrations when gilts were housed with a space allowance of 1 m 2 per gilt. The elevated free corticosteroid levels of gilts in the 1 m 2 per gilt treatment suggests that a chronic stress response due to crowding may have been responsible for the apparent impairment in the sexual behaviour of these animals.
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