Relevance of some behavioural criteria concerning the sow (motor activity and water intake) in intensive pig farming and veterinary practice.

In the pregnant tethered sow, water intake and motor activity were found to be related to urinary problems and productivity. Therefore, further studies were undertaken on these points. The 258 pregnant sows from eight breeding finishing herds were submitted to water intake control and the investigation of motor activity was performed on 125 pregnant sows from 6 herds. Despite the same process of water supply, the intake varied a lot from sow to sow (mean: 17 litres/day/pregnant sow, (sigma = 6.9 l). The major part of water was drunk during feeding time. The following factors were found associated with water intake: body condition, lameness, parity, stage of pregnancy. The relations between water intake and urine composition were assessed. A low water intake was close related to high urine gravity and to abnormalities (crystals, proteinuria, bacteriuria). The pregnant tethered sows spent an average time of 250 min in the standing position. A diurnal rhythm was clearly observed and it was synchronized by feeding time. The following factors were found to be related to the standing time: parity, body condition, lameness. The frequency of standing up per 24 hours was not related to the total standing time. Under farm husbandry, standing time is rather inconstant in individual sows on subsequent days. Since photo cell apparatus cannot be used as a routine in veterinary practice, we have looked for a more simple method: the position of the sows one hour after feeding time. This index gave an accurate view of the total standing time and represented a practical parameter for epidemiological purposes. The relevance of measuring water intake and motor activity in veterinary practice is discussed.