Mortality, morbidity, and external injuries in piglets housed in two different housing systems. II. Rearing period of weaned piglets (age 5.5-10 weeks).

Abstract

Following an investigation concerning the well-being of piglets in a farrowing house, the study was continued in a rearing house. The same parameters were used: mortality, morbidity, and external injuries. Two housing systems were involved: one with a fully slatted concrete floor and one with a solid concrete floor with straw bedding. The investigation was carried out three times in each system, with approximately 550 piglets each time. Statistical analyses showed that mortality, morbidity, and frequency of external injuries were significantly higher in piglets reared in the slatted floor system than in the system with straw. The main diseases and causes of death were post-weaning enteritis and bowel oedema. Especially in the first examination (in the second week of the rearing period) the level of injury was strongly influenced by the housing system in the farrowing house. Sex, breed, origin of the piglets, litter size, and parity of the sow had no influence on the incidence of disease, but the breed had an influence on the frequency of injuries.