Nursing behaviour of sows during 5 weeks lactation and effects on piglet growth

Valros, Anna; Rundgren, M.; Špinka, Marek; Saloniemi, Hannu; Rydhmer, Lotta; Algers, Bo

doi:10.1016/s0168-1591(02)00006-0

Cited by 84 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…There are numerous papers describing almost a linear growth rate of piglets during the lactation (FALKENBERG and ZSCHORLICH, 1990;FRASER et al, 1994;KISNER et al, 1995;VALROS et al, 2002;WOLTER et al, 2002). Contrary to these findings, the present study demonstrates a non-linear growth model.…”

Section: Sow and Litter Performance During Lactationcontrasting

confidence: 88%

“…Moreover, piglets of low birth weight have a lower weaning weight, lower growth rate and they need more feed between birth and slaughter (KISNER et al, 1995;GONYOU et al, 1998;WOLTER and ELLIS, 2001). The growth potential of a suckling pig may be limited by several factors such as teat position (ZSCHORLICH andRITTER, 1984a, 1984b;PUPPE et al, 1993), composition of milk and amount of milk protein (NOBLET and ETIENNE, 1989), establishment of lactation and successful nursing (VALROS et al, 2002) and piglets transfer (ZSCHORLICH and RITTER, 1984a;LANGHAMMER, 1989, ZSCHORLICH, 1989FALKENBERG and ZSCHORLICH, 1990;RITTER and ZSCHORLICH, 1990). Heavier piglets are able to remove more milk from anterior mammary glands of lactating sows and consequently grow faster than lighter piglets (KING et al, 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of Birth Weight and Sex on Pre-Weaning Growth Rate of Piglets

2007

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A study was conducted to find out the effect of birth weight and sex on growth rate of piglets in pre-weaning period. A total of 466 piglets from 48 litters of multiparous sows (Landrace) were involved in the experiment. Using a clustering approach piglets were assigned into three birth weight groups (Heavy (H), Intermediate (I), Light (L)). For the analysis of growth performance, pigs were weighed every 7 days until weaning at 28 days of age and average daily gain (ADG) was calculated. During lactation, body weight of L piglets was 5.5-fold increased, whereas the increase in I and H piglets were only 4.7-fold and 3.4-fold, respectively. Piglets of L group were significantly lighter at all studied ages compared to piglets of I and H group. The highest ADG was noted in the second week for all three groups; thereafter it decreased in H and L piglets (24% and 17%, respectively). The average birth weight of piglets was positively and significantly correlated with body weight at days 7, 14, 21 and 28. Sex did not affect significantly the ADG of the investigated animals during the four weeks of lactation. The present results indicate that neither milk production after the second week of lactation nor consumption of creep feed are sufficient enough to cover nutrition needs of fast growing piglets. There's still a lack of optimization of nutrition in pre-weaning period especially for heavier piglets with their higher growth potential.

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Section: Sow and Litter Performance During Lactationcontrasting

confidence: 88%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Birth Weight and Sex on Pre-Weaning Growth Rate of Piglets

2007

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“…In addition, the nursing frequency in the GA systems seems to decline more rapidly compared with semi-natural conditions and farrowing crates (Figure 2). At 4 weeks p.p., the proportion of nursings terminated by the sow was about 95% in a GA system (Bøe, 1993) and about 62% in farrowing crates (Valros et al, 2002). This possibly reflects a decreased nursing motivation in the GA systems, as by terminating a nursing bout the sow prevents further udder massage by the piglets.…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

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

Nieuwamerongen

Bolhuis

Peet–Schwering

et al. 2014

Animal

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Commercial use of group housing systems for lactating sows is limited, but the recent transition to group housing during gestation in the EU may result in a renewed interest in such systems. Therefore, this review aims to identify key factors that may contribute to the success or failure of group housing of lactating sows in comparison with individual housing by describing the variety in group housing systems and discussing animal behaviour and performance compared with individual housing. Group housing systems can be divided in multi-suckling (MS) systems, in which sows are grouped with their litters, and get-away (GA) systems, which include a separate communal area accessible to sows only. These systems differ in many aspects regarding management and layout but, compared with individual housing, generally provide more environmental complexity, more freedom of movement for the sows and more freedom to express behaviours related to, for example, maternal care and social interactions. Group housing poses several risks, such as disrupted nursing and an increased level of crushing during the MS phase, and in the GA systems there is a risk for early cessation of nursing. On the other hand, pre-weaning mingling of litters clearly benefits piglet social development and may improve adaptation to the post-weaning situation. In addition, group-housed sows may show lactational ovulation, which provides opportunities for insemination during an extended lactation period, which benefits the piglets. Gradual transitions in social and physical environment around gestation, farrowing, grouping and weaning seem to be key success factors for group housing systems during lactation. In addition, selection of suitable sows and quality of stockmanship seem important.

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“…However, there is no change in the total number of successful nursings per day, over a 4-5 week post-partum period (Valros et al, 2002). This is quite different from what occurs in the 'natural' situation and in other farrowing systems such as those that allow the sow to get away from her litter or which allow sows and/or litters to mix prior to weaning.…”

Section: Challenges With Weaningmentioning

confidence: 79%

“…The change from milk to solid feed influences piglet welfare When the sow and her litter are kept intact and separated from others, there may be temporal changes in certain parameters of nursing, such as a decrease in total nursing duration and an increase in the percentage of nursings terminated by the sow (Valros et al, 2002). However, there is no change in the total number of successful nursings per day, over a 4-5 week post-partum period (Valros et al, 2002).…”

Section: Challenges With Weaningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Welfare of Pigs in the Farrowing Environment

Johnson

Marchant‐Forde²

The Welfare of Pigs

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Nursing behaviour of sows during 5 weeks lactation and effects on piglet growth

Cited by 84 publications

References 21 publications

Effect of Birth Weight and Sex on Pre-Weaning Growth Rate of Piglets

Effect of Birth Weight and Sex on Pre-Weaning Growth Rate of Piglets

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

Welfare of Pigs in the Farrowing Environment

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