Preferences of pregnant sows for wet and dry concrete floors

Abstract

The influence of feeding location and confinement on the preferences of pregnant sows for wet and dry concrete floors was evaluated. Preference was assessed by providing sows with access to two adjacent pens, one with a dry concrete floor and the other with a wet concrete floor. Sows were fed in either the wet pen or dry pen and allowed continuous free access to both pens, or they were confined overnight in one of the pens and allowed 8 h access per day to the other pen. After 2 days experience of this routine, time spent in the dry pen, number of visits to the other pen, pen use and behaviour were recorded over an 8-h period on the test day. The results showed that sows spent 80–90% of their time on the dry floor. Feeding sows in the wet pen altered their preferences for the first 2 h on the test day, but subsequently feeding location did not influence preference. Sows did not sit, kneel or lie on the wet floor. Confinement increased occupancy of the dry pen and caused an increase in walking behaviour. Sows confined on dry floors showed a marked increase in the number of visits to the wet pen, indicating that short periods of confinement may induce behavioural rebound effects. It is concluded that at 20°C a wet concrete floor is an aversive environment for sows and that previous confinement (or exclusion from an environment) can influence preference in continuous access choice tests in unexpected ways.