Minimal floor space allowance for gestating sows kept in pens with electronic sow feeders on fully slatted floors

Journal of Animal Science
Yuzhi Z LiS K Baidoo

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the minimal floor space allowance for gestating sows group-housed in pens with electronic sow feeders (ESF). Five floor space allowances were each tested in 4 pens: 1.5 m2, 1.7 m2, 1.9 m2, 2.1 m2 per sow, and 1.5 m2 per sow with more space (2.1 m2 per sow) during the first week of mixing (2.1/1.5 m2). The floor space allowances were achieved by adjusting pen size (from 80 to 88 m2) and group size (42, 46, and 51 sows per pen). Pregnant sows (n = 928, Large White × Landrace, parity = 1 to 9) were moved to ESF pens at about 5 wk of gestation and remained in their pens until about day 109 of gestation. Sows farrowed in individual stalls and weaned their litters at about 19 d after farrowing. Sows that were rebred within 1 wk after weaning were considered to have completed the study. Performance, skin lesions, and incidence of lameness in ESF pens were monitored for all sows. Data were analyzed using the Frequency, Glimmix, and Mixed procedures of the SAS software. Floor space allowance did not affect (P = 0.18 or greater) body weight, backfat depth, or condition score in ESF pens or during the lactation period. No differences (P = 0.23 or greater) were detected in farrowing rates (95, 92, 94, 94, ...Continue Reading

References

Mar 21, 2007·Journal of Animal Science·J L Salak-JohnsonS E Curtis
May 9, 2007·Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science : JAAWS·Terry L Maple
May 1, 2010·Animal : an International Journal of Animal Bioscience·X AverósM C Meunier-Salaün
Oct 23, 2013·Journal of Animal Science·L J Johnston, Y Z Li
Mar 26, 2014·Journal of Animal Science·A E DeDeckerJ L Salak-Johnson
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