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D E PA R T M E N T O F LA R G E A N I MA L S C I E N C E S
UN IVE R S ITY O F C OPE NHAGE N
Higher piglet mortality in designed farrowing pens
compared with traditional farrowing crates
Hales, J.1, Moustsen, V. A.2, Nielsen, M. B. F. 2, Hansen, C. F.1
1Department
of Large Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen; 2Danish Pig Research Centre, SEGES
Email: hales@sund.ku.dk
INTRODUCTION
Loose housed systems for farrowing and lactating sows can only be
considered a realistic alternative to farrowing crates if equal or better
production results can be obtained.
The aim of this study was to compare piglet mortality in Free Farrowing
pens (FF-pens) and farrowing crates in commercial pig farms.
Figure 1. Examples of farrowing pen for loose housed sows (left) and farrowing crate (right)
used in the study.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Herd × housing: P=0.107
The study was conducted in three commercial herds (A, B, and C) that had
both farrowing crates and FF-pens in their farrowing units. Piglet mortality
was analysed by use of linear models in two periods: before litter equalisation
and after litter equalisation.
RESULTS
• Average number of total born piglets per litter was 17.0 in Herd A, 17.3 in
Herd × housing: P=0.03
Herd B and 16.1 in Herd C.
• Piglet mortality before litter equalisation was higher in FF-pens (13.7%) than
in crates (11.8%) (P<0.001).
• Piglet mortality increased before (P<0.001) as well as after (P<0.001) litter
equalisation with increasing parity.
• Larger litter size at birth increased mortality before equalisation (P<0.001).
• Larger equalised litter size increased mortality after equalisation (P<0.001).
CONCLUSION
Piglet mortality was higher in FF-pens
compared with traditional crates. Some
sows in pens were able to deliver the
same level of mortality as sows in crates,
but the proportion was too small to
consider FF-pens a robust type of
housing.
Part of these results previously published as:
Hales et al. (2014) Animal 8:1, pp 113-120
Proportion of high mortlaity
sows before equalisation, %
Crate
Pen
Crate
Proportion of high mortlaity
sows after equalisation, %
Figure 2. Piglet mortality in crates and pens in Herds A, B and C. Top: mortality before equalisation,
bottom: mortality after litter equalisation. Colomns with different superscripts differ (P<0.05).
100
*
80
60
40
20
0
Herd A
Herd B
Herd C
Pen
100
*
***
Herd A
Herd B
80
60
40
20
0
Herd C
Figure 3. Percentage of high mortality sows in crates and pens in Herds A, B and C. Left: before litter equalisation (high mortality>11%); right: after litter
equalisation (high mortality>7%).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Funding for this project was provided by Danish Pig Research Centre, SEGES, and The Danish Rural
Development Programme 2007 -2013/The European Agricultural fund for Rural Development.