Cross-suckling and associated behaviour in piglets and sows

A review of sow and piglet behaviour and performance in group housing systems for lactating sows

“…It has been reported that birth and weaning weights were similar for cross-sucklers and noncross-sucklers, both in MS housing (Olsen et al, 1998) and in farrowing crates in which litters could mingle (Illmann et al, 2007). Dybkjaer et al (2001), however, found a negative correlation between cross-suckling frequency and daily growth (r = − 0.81) and others reported a lower pre-weaning weight gain for cross-sucklers compared with non-cross-sucklers (Wülbers-Mindermann, 1992;Goetz andTroxler, 1995, cited in Burgwal-Konertz, 1996).…”

“…Dybkjaer et al (2001), however, found a negative correlation between cross-suckling frequency and daily growth (r = − 0.81) and others reported a lower pre-weaning weight gain for cross-sucklers compared with non-cross-sucklers (Wülbers-Mindermann, 1992;Goetz andTroxler, 1995, cited in Burgwal-Konertz, 1996). On the one hand, cross-suckling may provide benefits for piglets that have a low milk intake from their own mother (Olsen et al, 1998) and even lead to greater piglet uniformity when cross-suckling levels out differences in litter size (Algers, 1991). On the other hand, competition at the udder may be increased (Pedersen et al, 1998), which may be detrimental for the weakest piglets (Algers, 1991), cause stress owing to a lack of a stable milk source (Burgwal-Konertz, 1996) and result in injuries to the head and carpal joints (Goetz and Troxler, 1995).…”

“…On the other hand, competition at the udder may be increased (Pedersen et al, 1998), which may be detrimental for the weakest piglets (Algers, 1991), cause stress owing to a lack of a stable milk source (Burgwal-Konertz, 1996) and result in injuries to the head and carpal joints (Goetz and Troxler, 1995). In addition, sows may be distressed by cross-suckling and cross-massaging of piglets (Bohnenkamp et al, 2013a) and sows can be more aggressive towards non-offspring (Olsen et al, 1998). These potential negative consequences make cross-suckling an issue that needs further attention in the MS systems (Olsen et al, 1998).…”

“…In addition, sows may be distressed by cross-suckling and cross-massaging of piglets (Bohnenkamp et al, 2013a) and sows can be more aggressive towards non-offspring (Olsen et al, 1998). These potential negative consequences make cross-suckling an issue that needs further attention in the MS systems (Olsen et al, 1998).…”

“…In the MS systems, the percentage of cross-sucklers relative to the total number of piglets varied from 11% to 39% (Goetz and Troxler, 1995;Wechsler, 1996;Olsen et al, 1998;Maletínská and Špinka, 2001), the percentage of cross-sucklers per nursing ranged from 10% to 65% (Wattanakul et al, 1997 and and the number of nursings in which cross-suckling occurred varied between 29% and 62% (Bryant and Rowlinson, 1984;Maletínská and Špinka, 2001). Cross-sucklers display different strategies regarding the number of other sows they target and how often they cross-suckle, that is, permanently or nonpermanently (Goetz and Troxler, 1995;Olsen et al, 1998;Maletínská and Špinka, 2001).…”