Maternal Behavior, Posture Change, and Production Performance of Lactating Sows Housed in an Enriched Environment
This study aimed to evaluate whether adding straw to a loose-farrowing house promotes maternal functions and production. Forty-eight sows (Landrace× Large White) were housed in either a farrowing pen without straw (C, n = 24) or with straw (S, n = 24). Behaviors were observed using video recordings and were statistically analyzed. Lateral recumbency was […]
A flooring comparison: The impact of rubber mats on the health, behavior, and welfare of group-housed sows at breeding
Comfortable flooring may impact many aspects of an animal’s welfare, including lying behavior, an animal’s ability to change postures, and incidence of lameness and lesions. Therefore, we hypothesized that the addition of rubber mats to stalls of group pens would improve sow health, comfort and welfare during breeding. In this study, Landrace × Yorkshire sows (128) were […]
Effects of increasing energy intake and foraging behaviours on the development of stereotypies in pregnant sows
We examined the role of two aspects of food restriction (lack of energy and lack of foraging substrate) in the development of stereotypies. Twenty-four second parity sows in the eighth week of gestation were classified according to their activity level. Sows within each group were randomly assigned to either a “high-energy” (HE, 1.7 times more […]
Development of approach and handling tests for the assessment of reactivity to humans of sows housed in stall or in group
The aim of the present study was to develop reliable and easy-to-use tests for on-farm assessment of sow reactivity to human in different housing systems. A total of 123 gestating sows at different parities and stages of pregnancy were successively subjected to two tests according to their housing systems: an approach (AS) test and a […]
Ethics of feeding: the omnivore dilemma
The way in which animals are fed is an important aspect of their welfare. Not only does food provide the energy and nutrients vital for survival, but feeding is also associated with a number of other factors contributing to the well-being of animals. The feeding method can determine the animals’ abilities to fulfil basic behavioural […]
Influence of social Status on the Welfare of Sows in Static and Dynamic Groups
Forty-eight Large Whitex Landrace multiparous sows were mixed into twelve groups of four animals after their piglets were weaned. These groups were defined as static, with no animals being added to or removed from the groups after their formation. Aggressive and submissive behaviours were recorded continuously for 9 h after the sows were mixed, and […]
The effect of feeding a high fibre diet on the welfare of sows housed in large dynamic groups
This study assessed the effect of increasing fibre levels in the concentrate ration on the welfare of sows housed in a large dynamic group. One hundred and twelve Large White × Landrace sows were allocated to one of two treatments over six replicates. Treatments were as follows: (i) High Fibre diet (∼15% CF [Crude Fibre]), […]
The effect of increasing dietary fibre and the provision of straw racks on the welfare of sows housed in small static groups
This study assessed the effects of increasing dietary fibre levels in concentrate rations and providing access to straw in racks on the welfare of pregnant sows housed in small static groups. In a 2 × 2 factorial design experiment, 128 Large White × Landrace pregnant sows were offered one of two diets: (i) High fibre […]
Repeated locomotion scoring of a sow herd to measure lameness: consistency over time, the effect of sow characteristics and inter-observer reliability
Investigating variability of scores between different observers, between animals and over time aids the design of valid sampling methodologies for measuring animal welfare. Locomotion scores (0 to 5 scale) were collected: i) from 154 sows in one herd, using three to five observers each time, and scoring sows on up to ten occasions over a […]
Recurrent Long-Lasting Tethering Reduces BDNF Protein Levels in the Dorsal Hippocampus and Frontal Cortex in Pigs
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling has been implicated in the onset of depression and in antidepressant efficacy, although the exact role of this neurotrophin in the pathophysiology of depression remains to be elucidated. Also, the interaction between chronic stress, which may precede depression, corticosteroids and BDNF is not fully understood. The present study aimed at […]