Comparison of gestating sows housed either in group with the electronic sow feeding system or conventional stall over three consecutive parities

The EU has prohibited the use of gestating crates for pregnant sows. However, keeping pregnant sows in an individual crate is still widely used in Asian countries. As modern type of group housed sows with individual feeding, electronic sow feeding (ESF) system is introduced in EU. However, a few studies were conducted to figure out the long-term and carry-over effects of static group during gestation to lactation on reproductive performance and physical activities of sows. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to compare productivity and physiological status of gestating sows between ESF and conventional stall system up to the third parity.

A total of 83 pregnant gilts (Yorkshire×Landrace) were introduced to their treatments, conventional stall (ST) or groups with the ESF system (ESF), on the basis of body weight (BW) and backfat thickness (BFT) in a completely randomized design. Rice hull was used as bedding material in group housing floor for ESF treatment. Commercial gestating diet was provided daily at 2.0 kg, 2.2 kg and 2.4 kg/day in the first, second and third parity, respectively. Sow traits included BW and BFT were measured at d 35, 110 of gestation as well as at 12 h and d 21 postpartum. Reproductive performance, delivery time, weaning to estrus interval (WEI) were measured of sows. For health descriptors, skin injuries and locomotion scores were assessed during gestation.

Backfat gain during gestation tended to be higher in ESF than ST treatment (P=0.08, P= 0.10 in parities 1 and 2, respectively). Similarly, ESF treatment tended to have a more body weight (BW) gain in parities 2 and 3 (P=0.07, P=0.10, respectively). There was as tendency to shorten delivery time in ESF treatment (P=0.08 in parities 1). Higher incidence of body scratch was scored in ESF in early gestation in all parities (P< 0.01), resulting in higher locomotor disorders in middle and late gestating period (P=0.07). Higher farrowing rate of sows was observed in ST treatment regardless of parity.

This experiment suggested that ESF treatment showed higher growth performance as well as survival rate of piglets. However, more incidences of body scratch as well as higher locomotion disorder scores were observed in ESF sows due to a combination of persistent fighting around ESF machines and inadequate bedding materials. Consequently it is necessary to consider the proper bedding materials as well as adequate space divider or barrier for gestating sows to avoid escaping aggression in ESF system.

Disclosure of Interest: None Declared.