Impact of Duration of Farrowing Crate Closure on Physical Indicators of Sow Welfare and Piglet Mortality
Maria Camila Ceballos,
Karen Camille Rocha Góis,
Thomas D. Parsons,
Meghann Pierdon
Affiliations
Maria Camila Ceballos
Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine—University of Calgary, Clinical Skills Building, 11877–85th Street NW, Calgary, AB T3R 1J3, Canada
Karen Camille Rocha Góis
Swine Teaching and Research Center, New Bolton Center, Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 382 West Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA
Thomas D. Parsons
Swine Teaching and Research Center, New Bolton Center, Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 382 West Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA
Meghann Pierdon
Swine Teaching and Research Center, New Bolton Center, Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 382 West Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA
This study examines effects of opening hinged farrowing crates 4 or 7 days post-farrowing. Sows (n = 696) allocated to 3 treatments: PC—crate closed, T4—crate opened day 4, and T7—crate opened day 7 were assessed for body condition score (BCS), lameness, shoulder lesions and teat lesions. Piglet mortality was higher in T4 (27.8%) compared to T7 (23.9%) and PC (25.9%) (p (p > 0.05). No difference in risk of being laid on was found 1–3 days post-farrowing with all crates closed (p > 0.05). Day 4–6, piglets in T4, experienced higher risk of being laid on compared to PC (IRR = 2.5, p p p p < 0.05). With crates open, risk of piglets being laid on increased between 7 days and weaning, but total piglet mortality did not differ and the sow’s risk for teat lesions decreased. Our results, therefore, support opening crates at day 7.
