Impact of an extended photoperiod in farrowing houses on the performance and behaviour of sows and their litters

Abstract

Lachance, M. P., Laforest, J. P., Devillers, N., Laperrie`re, A. and Farmer, C. 2010. Impact of an extended photoperiod in farrowing houses on the performance and behaviour of sows and their litters. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 90: 311Á319. The effects of an extended photoperiod around parturition and throughout lactation on performances of primiparous sows and their piglets were studied. Sows were assigned to two light regimens: (1) standard (CTL, n 028), 8 h of daily light from day 112 of gestation until day 23 of lactation; and (2) extended (TRT, n 026), 23 h of daily light from day 112 of gestation to day 4 of lactation and 16 h thereafter. Colostrum intake was estimated based on a 24-h piglet weight gain starting at the end of farrowing. Piglets were weighed on days 4, 7, 14, 21 (weaning on day 23), 35 and 56. On days 4 and 21 of lactation, milk and blood samples were obtained. Behaviour was recorded on days 3 and 20. Piglet feed intakes were noted post-weaning until day 56. The TRT sows had lower concentrations of melatonin than the CTL sows on day 4 (PB0.05), but prolactin concentrations, milk composition and colostrum intake by piglets were unaffected by treatment (P0.1). Litter growth during lactation was unaffected (P0.1), but TRT piglets consumed less feed between 23 and 34 d of age (P B0.05) and weighed less on day 35 (PB0.05). The TRT piglets were more active than CTL piglets on day 3 of lactation only (PB0.05). Increasing the period of daily light in the farrowing house did not improve the performance of primiparous sows and their piglets.

Impact of a long photoperiod during lactation on immune status of piglets1

“…It is interesting to note that colostrum and milk content of different cytokines are also regulated by the nocturnal melatonin surge (Pontes et al, 2007). In this study, photoperiod did not alter concentrations of melatonin in blood and milk from sows (Lachance et al, 2010). However, samples were collected after 1000 h, being late after the nocturnal surge of melatonin.…”

“…Farrowings took place from February to July 2008 and photoperiod treatments were equally distributed among each group of farrowing sows each month. Light conditions and quantifi cation of light emissions in each farrowing room and each crate were described previously (Lachance et al, 2010). Briefl y, there was an average of 59 ± 5 lx in front of the crates.…”

“…No creep feed was distributed to piglets during lactation and they had no access to the sow feeder. Feeding conditions of sows and piglets after weaning were also previously described (Lachance et al, 2010). After weaning, each litter was housed in a pen (1.9 m × 1.9 m) and all piglets were subjected to 12 h of daily light (from 0600 to 1800 h).…”

“…An extended photoperiod during farrowing and lactation has been used to increase sow milk production and piglet performance (Mabry et al, 1983;Gooneratne and Thacker, 1990;Lachance et al, 2010). Such a practice may have important consequences on the development of the immune system of a piglet, because there is clear evidence that both innate and adaptive immune responses of many animal species are affected by photoperiod and seasonal rhythms (Nelson, 2004;Wen and Prendergast, 2007;Haldar and Ahmad, 2010).…”

Effect of Light Regiment on Farrowing Performance and Behavior in Sows

“…The present study reported that the duration of time spent standing, laying down, sitting, and kneeling were not affected by light treatment. Lachance et al [20] similarly reported no differences in postural behaviors in sows with an extended photoperiod compared to sows exposed to 8 h of light per day during lactation. Likewise, Simitzis et al [21] reported no postural differences in sows exposed to 8 h of light per day compared to those exposed to 20 h of light per day.…”