Morgan Liat, Klement Eyal, Novak Shiri, Eliahoo Elad, Younis Ahmad, Abells Sutton Gila, Abu-Ahmad Wiessam, Raz Tal
Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
Lahav C.R.O, Comprehensive Pre-Clinical Services, Lahav, Israel.
Prev Vet Med. 2018 Nov 15;160:10-17. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.09.026. Epub 2018 Sep 26.
In many countries sows are kept in individual stalls from insemination up to just few days prior to farrowing. The overall objective of this study was to examine group housing management system for sows during gestation as an alternative for individual confinement stalls, and the possible effects on their welfare, production and reproduction performances. Accordingly, the study included three specific objectives: (1) to compare parameters of production, reproduction, and welfare of sows housed in groups (either 30 or 7 sows/group; Large Group: LG, Small Group: SG, respectively) during gestation as compared to individual confinement stalls (IS); (2) to compare saliva cortisol of pregnant sows throughout gestation, when housed in groups of three different sizes (either 7, 15 or 30 sows per pen group); and (3) to compare sows' production and reproduction performances at the herd level, before, during and after practically transforming from a management of individual confinement stalls to a group housing system, in a large commercial swine farm over a six-year period. Mean cycle length (weaning-to-weaning) was shorter in group housing management as compared to individual stalls (P = 0.0110), but gestation length did not differ among the three groups. Overall farrowing rate (sows farrowed out of those inseminated) was higher (P ≤ 0.0134) for sows housed in groups (either SG or LG). Furthermore, there was a tendency towards a higher number of total born (P = 0.1033), and born alive piglets (P = 0.0862), in group housing system as compared to individual housing management; however, it did not differ between the LG and SG groups. Injuries and lameness index (ILI) of sows improved significantly over the gestation period in group housing management. Group saliva cortisol during gestation did not differ significantly among groups of 7, 15, or 30 sows, except on the first saliva sampling, just after sows were mixed into groups, where cortisol level was significantly higher in sows housed in a pen of 30 sows. Production and reproduction performances at the herd level, over a 6-years period- before, during and after transforming to a group housing system, improved significantly: shortened cycle length, increased farrowing rate, and increased number of total born and born alive piglets. In conclusion, group housing management during gestation was associated with better reproduction, productivity and welfare of sows, as compared to individual stalls. A welfare friendly housing system can be beneficial and effective for both the farmers and the animals.
在许多国家，母猪从授精到分娩前几天都被单独饲养在限位栏中。本研究的总体目标是研究妊娠期间母猪的群养管理系统，作为个体限位栏的替代方案，以及对母猪福利、生产和繁殖性能的可能影响。因此，该研究包括三个具体目标：（1）比较妊娠期间群养（分别为30头或7头母猪/组；大群组：LG，小群组：SG）母猪与个体限位栏（IS）母猪的生产、繁殖和福利参数；（2）比较三种不同规模群组（每组7头、15头或30头母猪）中妊娠母猪整个妊娠期的唾液皮质醇水平；（3）在一个大型商业养猪场，比较在实际从个体限位栏管理转变为群养系统之前、期间和之后六年期间，猪群水平上母猪的生产和繁殖性能。与个体限位栏相比，群养管理下的平均周期长度（断奶至断奶）较短（P = 0.0110），但三组之间的妊娠期长度没有差异。群养（SG或LG）母猪的总体产仔率（授精母猪中分娩的母猪）较高（P≤0.0134）。此外，与个体饲养管理相比，群养系统中总产仔数（P = 0.1033）和活产仔猪数（P = 0.0862）有增加的趋势；然而，LG组和SG组之间没有差异。在群养管理中，母猪妊娠期内的受伤情况和跛行指数（ILI）显著改善。妊娠期间，7头、15头或30头母猪组的群体唾液皮质醇水平没有显著差异，除了在母猪混群后的第一次唾液采样时，30头母猪一栏的母猪皮质醇水平显著较高。在六年期间，在转变为群养系统之前、期间和之后，猪群水平上的生产和繁殖性能显著改善：周期长度缩短、产仔率提高、总产仔数和活产仔猪数增加。总之，与个体限位栏相比，妊娠期间的群养管理与母猪更好的繁殖、生产力和福利相关。一个有利于福利事业的饲养系统对养殖户和动物都有益且有效。
