A Comparative Study Of The Reproductive Performance And Behavior Of Pregnant Sows Under Stall And Group Housing Conditions

1Comparison of the reproductive performance and physical status of sows and piglets under group housing and stall conditionsIn this experiment,45gilts were randomly divided into2groups with21in stalls and24in groups. The area of pregnant sows in stalls and groups were1.2m2and2.5m2. Sow back fat depth and reproductive performance were calculated. Salivary cortisol concentration, milk protein, triglyceride and whey T3, T4, PRL concentrations of the sows were detected. Plasma biochemical indicators and some hormone concentrations were analyzed. At week4, cortisol concentration was significantly higher in groups (p=0.019). There are no differences in sow back fat depth, reproductive performance, milk protein, triglyceride and whey T3, T4, PRL concentrations. But the plasma concentrations of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in piglets were significantly higher in groups (p=0.006, p=0.005). Housing condition did not affect sow’s reproductive performance but changed piglets’ plasma total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. The mechanisms underlying this effect require further investigation.2Comparison of the behavior of pregnant sows under group housing and stall conditionsSows’ behavior was recorded through Hik-vision cameras, and the behavior displayed30min before and after the afternoon feeding was analyzed. Behaviors include overall ingestive, posture, agonistic, positive social behavior, and stereotype behavior. The behaviors for the initial (week2), middle (week9) and late (week14) stages of gestation were assessed to get the frequency and duration of each behavior. The results showed that the frequency and duration of drinking for sows in stalls were higher than that in groups (P <0.05). The changes of excretion frequency and duration were similar. The duration of standing was significantly higher for group housed sows than stall housed sows (P<0.01). Stall housed sows’agonistic frequency was significantly higher than group housed sows (P <0.05), but the duration presented no significant difference. The frequency of positive social behavior was significantly higher in group housed sows than in stall housed sows (P <0.01). The frequency of sham chewing were significantly lower in group housed sows than in stall housed sows (P<0.05), so was the duration of stereotype behavior (P<0.01). It seems that group housing satisfied the need of sows for social behavior expression, and reduced agonistic behavior and stereotype behavior.