Consistency is key: interactions of current and previous farrowing system on litter size and piglet mortality

Abstract

Global interest in alternative indoor farrowing systems is increasing, leading to a growing number of farms utilising such systems alongside standard crates. There is evidence that interchanging sows between different farrowing systems affects maternal behaviour, whilst the subsequent effect of this on piglet mortality is unknown. The current study hypothesised that second parity piglet mortality would be higher if a sow farrowed in a different farrowing system to that of her first parity. Retrospective farm performance records were used from 753 sows during their first and second parities. Sows farrowed in either standard crates (crates), temporary crates (360s) or straw-bedded pens (pens), with mortality recorded as occurring either pre- or post-processing. Inter- and intra-parity sow consistency in performance were also investigated. Overall, total piglet mortality reduced from the first to the second parity, being significantly higher in the crates and higher in the 360s during the first or second parity, respectively. In the second parity, an interaction of the current and previous farrowing systems resulted in the lowest incidence of crushing for sows housed in the same system as their first parity for the crates and pens, but not the 360s. Post-processing mortality was significantly higher in the crates if a sow previously farrowed in the 360s and vice versa. Sows which previously farrowed in a pen had a significantly larger litter size and lower pre-processing mortality from crushing in their second parity than sows previously housed in the crates or the 360s. No inter-parity consistency of sow performance was found, whilst intra-parity consistency was found in the first but not second parity. In conclusion, returning sows to the same farrowing system appears to reduce piglet mortality, whilst farrowing in a pen during the first parity significantly increased second parity litter size without increasing piglet mortality.

The Effect of Sows’ and Piglets’ Behaviour on Piglet Crushing Patterns in Two Different Farrowing Pen Systems

“…Since the two loose-housing systems were installed just before the experiment started, all multiparous sows farrowed in pens with farrowing crate in their previous gestations in our study. However, recent research showed that loose-housed sows lost fewer piglets due to crushing, if they had already experienced the same system in the previous lactation [39]. Therefore, it is possible that our results for piglet crushing would be different, if the sows had already experienced the two free-farrowing pens before the start of the experiment.…”

Comparison of three different farrowing systems: skin lesions and behaviour of sows with special regard to nursing behaviour in a group housing system for lactating sows

“…At the beginning of our experiment, all multiparous sows farrowed in FCs in previous gestations. Recent research showed that sow behaviour is influenced by previous farrowing experiences and that this especially becomes visible when sows enter an unknown farrowing system (King et al , 2019). However, no influence of parity on the active and resting behaviour was found in our study.…”

Are Larger Litters a Concern for Piglet Survival or An Effectively Manageable Trait?

“…Weber et al [95] Although sows in open pen systems have an increased tendency to overlay piglets compared to conventional crates [92,93,95], evidence of improved farrowing performance has been observed [50,94,95]. As suggested by Temple Grandin, even if a new farrowing environment could reduce sow stress without compromising piglet survival, the costs and space needed to implement new technologies into commercial production often requires ' .…”