The effect of pen design on free space utilization of sows group housed in gestation pens equipped with free access stalls

Rioja-Lang, Fiona C.; Hayne, S. M.; Gonyou, H. W.

doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2013.07.002

Cited by 13 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 24 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…These results are in agreement with others who reported that dominant sows spend more time utilizing the group-pen area than did lower-ranking sows [24]. Still, others report that larger-bodied sows spend more time in the group-pen area than smaller sows mainly due to space restriction in stalls, insuf-ficient space in the group-pen area, or pen design [15] [19] [25]. However, we speculate that the dominant sows may influence the activities of the other sows based on their location within the free access stall-pen housing environment.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Animal welfare reflects the successful adaptation of the individual, not the population [14]. The degree of the welfare of individuals within a group varies greatly [15], and is partly associated with social status [16], which is one of the most critical and overlooked factors that contribute to welfare variation. These data imply that sow social rank is a critical factor that influences the appropriate physiological and behavioral response in her attempt to cope with social and environmental stressors when kept in a free access stall-pen housing environment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Effect of Social Rank on Well-Being and Space Utilization of Dry Sows Kept in a Free Access Stall-Pen Housing Environment

DeDecker¹,

Salak‐Johnson²

2020

OJAS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The primary objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the impact of social rank on the well-being of gestating sows housed in a free access stall-pen housing environment. At d 30 post-breeding, 32 multiparous crossbred sows in groups of 4 were allocated to a stall-pen housing environment. Blood samples were taken at gestational d 30 (before mixing) and d 31 (24-h post-mixing), and then again at d 89 and 110; whereas, sow behavior was recorded at gestational d 30, 66, 87, and 102. Social rank was determined based on aggressive encounters, dyadic fighting wins and losses, and displacements between sows by 48-h post-mixing. At d 31 (post-mixing), regardless of social rank, total WBC decreased and, lymphocyte counts increased, but % change was more significant among the subordinates than dominants. The same trend occurred with neutrophil chemotaxis increased more in subordinates, but ConA-induced lymphocyte proliferation increased more in dominants, whereas LPS-induced lymphocyte proliferation was reduced among dominants. Sow behavior was differentially affected by social rank and time-periods or gestational day, with subordinates spending more time sitting and drinking, especially during time-periods 1, 3, and 4. Dominants displayed more oral-nasal-facial behaviors during mid-gestation but more sham-chew during time-period 2, which included feeding time. Social rank also influenced the percentage of time sows spent in either the stall or pen area, with subordinates in stalls and dominants in pen. These data imply that social rank differentially influences physiology and behavior of dry sows housed in a free access stall-pen environment. More specifically, the location of the dominant sow, time of day, and activity may influence when and where the subordinates spend their time within this housing system.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Social Rank on Well-Being and Space Utilization of Dry Sows Kept in a Free Access Stall-Pen Housing Environment

DeDecker¹,

Salak‐Johnson²

2020

OJAS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Sows in the SS pens spent 16% of their time in the group area, which differed from 29% in the IS and 32% in the LS pens. Although this use was slightly higher than that observed by Rioja-Lang et al (2013) in FAS pens containing 25 gestating sows, both studies show the same pattern of increased space allowance increasing group space usage. Given 2.16 m 2 /sow, sows used the group space an average of 12% of the time, whereas sows with 3.24 m 2 /sow used it 19% of the time (Rioja-Lang et al, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

“…Although this use was slightly higher than that observed by Rioja-Lang et al (2013) in FAS pens containing 25 gestating sows, both studies show the same pattern of increased space allowance increasing group space usage. Given 2.16 m 2 /sow, sows used the group space an average of 12% of the time, whereas sows with 3.24 m 2 /sow used it 19% of the time (Rioja-Lang et al, 2013). However, average group space use was much greater at 60% when groups of 4 sows were housed in FAS at similar stocking densities (DeDecker, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Group space allowance has little effect on sow health, productivity, or welfare in a free-access stall system1,2

Mack

Lay

Eicher

et al. 2014

Journal of Animal Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Free-access stalls allow sows to choose the protection of a stall or use of a shared group space. This study investigated the effect of group space width, 0.91 (SS), 2.13 (IS), and 3.05 (LS) m, on the health, production, behavior, and welfare of gestating sows. Nine replications of 21 (N = 189) gestating sows were used. At gestational d 35.4 ± 2.3, the pregnant sows were distributed into 3 pens of 7 sows, where they remained until 104.6 ± 3.5 d. Each treatment pen had 7 free-access stalls and a group space that together provided 1.93 (SS), 2.68 (IS), or 3.24 (LS) m 2 /sow. Baseline measurements were obtained before mixing. Back fat depth, BW, BCS, and lameness were measured monthly, and skin lesions were scored weekly. Blood was collected monthly for hematological, immunological, and cortisol analyses. Sow behavior was video recorded continuously during the initial 4 d of treatment and 24 h every other week thereafter. Behavior was analyzed for location, posture, pen investigation, social contact, and aggression. Skin response to the mitogen concanavalin A (Con A) was tested at mean gestational d 106. Litter characteristics including size and weight were collected at birth and weaning. The data were analyzed using a mixed model. Multiple comparisons were adjusted with the Tukey-Kramer and Bejamini-Hochberg methods. Group space allowance had no effect on any measure of sow health, physiology, or production (P ≥ 0.10). Sows in the SS, IS, and LS pens spent 77.88% ± 3.88%, 66.02% ± 3.87%, and 63.64% ± 3.91%, respectively, of their time in the free-access stalls (P = 0.12). However, SS sows used the group space less than IS and LS sows (P = 0.01). Overall, pen investigatory behavior was not affected by group space allowance (P = 0.91). Sows in the LS pens spent more time in a social group than SS sows (P = 0.02), whereas sows in IS pens were intermediate to, but not different from, the other treatments (P ≥ 0.10). The size of the social groups was also affected by the group space allowance (P = 0.03), with SS sows forming smaller groups than LS sows; again, IS sows were intermediate to, but not different from, the other treatments. Although the group space allowance had no measurable impact on the health, physiology, or productivity of the sows, the lower group space use and social contact of the SS sows reduced the behavioral diversity benefits of group housing and may indicate an avoidance of social stressors or a lack of physical comfort in the smallest pens. RightsWorks produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted. ABSTRACT: Free-access stalls allow sows to choose the protection of a stall or use of a shared group space. This study investigated the effect of group space width, 0.91 (SS), 2.13 (IS), and 3.05 (LS) m, on the health, production, behavior, and welfare of gestating sows. Nine replications of 21 (N = 189) gestating sows were used. At gestational d 35.4 ± 2.3, the pregnant sows w...

show abstract

“…aggressive interactions with other sows. Likewise, Rioja-Lang et al (2013) noted that low-ranking sows spent more time than higher ranking sows in free access stalls to prevent being threatened or attacked in communal areas.…”

Section: Itemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of continuous access to feeding stalls during mixing on behavior, welfare, and performance of group-housed gestating sows in different social ranks

Wang

2016

Can. J. Anim. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study was conducted to evaluate a strategy of using feeding stalls to protect low-ranking sows in group-housing systems. Sows (n = 150, parity 1–9) were mixed at weaning in pens of 15 sows. Control pens allowed sows to access feeding stalls for 1 h of feeding daily during the initial 2 d after mixing. Treatment pens allowed sows to access feeding stalls continuously. Social rank was determined based on outcomes of aggressive interactions among sows after mixing. Low-ranking sows used the feeding stalls more frequently (P < 0.01) than high-ranking sows during the initial 6 h after mixing. Continuous stall access reduced frequency of aggressive interactions (P = 0.05) and, consequently, reduced skin lesions (P = 0.05) of sows in the pen. Neither continuous access to stalls nor social rank affected performance of sows. These results suggest that low-ranking sows used feeding stalls as hiding spaces to escape from aggressive interactions during mixing, which reduced skin lesions caused by aggression and improved the welfare of sows in the group-housing system studied.

show abstract

The effect of pen design on free space utilization of sows group housed in gestation pens equipped with free access stalls

Cited by 13 publications

References 24 publications

Effect of Social Rank on Well-Being and Space Utilization of Dry Sows Kept in a Free Access Stall-Pen Housing Environment

Effect of Social Rank on Well-Being and Space Utilization of Dry Sows Kept in a Free Access Stall-Pen Housing Environment

Group space allowance has little effect on sow health, productivity, or welfare in a free-access stall system1,2

Effect of continuous access to feeding stalls during mixing on behavior, welfare, and performance of group-housed gestating sows in different social ranks

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About