Effect of temporary crating on maternal behaviour and piglet mortality

Veronika Simanová

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Temporary crating is an alternative housing system for lactating sows and their piglets that was created in order to improve sows’ welfare. Sows in temporary crating are confined only for a short time interval (since the end of gestation period until approximately first 3 days post-partum) to minimise piglet mortality during this critical period. It is not clear whether there is a change in maternal behaviour of sows after crate opening. Specifically, whether there is a higher incidence of piglet trapping events during the performance of sow’s postural changes after crate opening. The aim of this diploma thesis was to compare temporary crating system and permanent crating system with the focus on how the opening of a hinge farrowing crate affects sow’s postural changes which could create life threatening situations for the piglets and potentially increase piglet mortality. Moreover, piglet trapping events, piglet vocalisation during these events and subsequent sow’s responsiveness toward these piglet crush calls as a part of sow maternal behaviour repertoire were studied to bring more results which could, hopefully, persuade farmers into implementation of this type of housing in pig husbandry. Temporarily crated sows (n = 8) were crated since the end of their gestation period until day 4 post-partum. Behaviour of these sows was recorder over a 24 h period, both preceding and following the opening of a hinge farrowing crate, creating a 48 h long continuous recording. Permanently crated sows (n = 7) were crated since the end of gestation until weaning of their piglets. Behaviour of permanently crated sows was recorder over a 48 h period, starting on day 3 and ending on day 5 post-partum. The following behaviour was analysed 24 h after crate opening in both housing systems: the number of sow’s postural changes such as standing up, lying down (duration, the use of pen support, piglets in danger zone), rolling behaviour and piglet trapping events (sow’s reaction towards piglet vocalisation after trapping event). All data were analysed using SAS. Temporarily crated sows performed more postural changes such as standing-to-lying, sitting-to-lying, and rolling compared to permanently crated sows 24 h after crate opening. Temporarily crated sows used the slope wall less frequently once the crate was opened compared to permanently crated sows, however, they still preferred some kind of support, such as rails, while lying down. Increased number of postural changes did not increase the occurrence of trapping events. Results of our experiment show that opening of a farrowing crate significantly affects sows’ behaviour but does not threaten the safety of piglets, in fact, temporary crating might have a positive effect on the welfare of sows and their piglets.

Keywords

sow, piglet, maternal behaviour, trapping, postural change, mortality, welfare, temporary crating, pig, pen, vocalisation

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 17. 4. 2023

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 17. 5. 2023
• Supervisor: RNDr. Gudrun Illmann, CSc.
• Reader: Jitka Šilerová, externi

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources

Master programme:
Animal Health and Welfare Management