Abstract:
International interest in loose-housed farrowing is growing and there are ongoing discussions within the European Union (EU) on new legal requirements. However, there is a lack of empirical data on loose-housed farrowing pen sizes and sow dimensions in commercial production. The aim of this study was to map and describe sow size and loose-housing farrowing pen size on commercial piglet-producing farms in Sweden. The study included 146 sows and 51 pen types on 35 medium sized to large Swedish piglet-producing farms (ranging from 106 to 1300 sows in production). Sow length ranged from 129 to 238 cm (mean ± SD 191.3 ± 19.3 cm) and sow height from 74 to 133 cm (86.7 ± 7.7 cm). Floor space occupied by the sow when lying down (length x height) ranged from 1.0 to 3.2 m2 (1.7 ± 0.3 m2). Pen length ranged from 259 to 415 cm (315.1 ± 24.3 cm), pen width from 188 to 245 cm (207.0 ± 10.7 cm), total pen area from 5.7 to 8.9 m2 (6.5 ± 0.5 m2), piglet corner area from 0.5 to 1.8 m2 (1.1 ± 0.4 m2) and area available for the sow (total area - piglet corner area) from 3.9 to 6.4 m2 (5.4 ± 0.6 m2). These results show that there is substantial variation in sow, pen and piglet corner size on commercial piglet-producing farms in Sweden. This poses a risk of mismatches between sow and pen size (pens too short in relation to sow dimensions), especially for older sows. These findings are of practical significance for animal welfare and production and emphasise the importance of designing loose-housed pens adapted to future sow, litter and piglet size.
摘要:
国际社会对散居分娩的兴趣正在增长,欧盟(EU)内部正在就新的法律要求进行讨论。然而,在商业生产中,缺乏关于松散饲养的分娩围栏尺寸和母猪尺寸的经验数据。这项研究的目的是绘制和描述瑞典商业仔猪生产农场的母猪大小和松散饲养的围栏大小。该研究包括35个中型至大型瑞典仔猪生产农场的146头母猪和51个围栏类型(生产中的母猪为106至1300头)。母猪长度为129至238cm(平均±SD191.3±19.3cm),母猪高度为74至133cm(86.7±7.7cm)。躺下时母猪占用的占地面积(长度x高度)为1.0至3.2m2(1.7±0.3m2)。笔长度为259至415厘米(315.1±24.3厘米),笔宽度从188到245厘米(207.0±10.7厘米),笔总面积为5.7至8.9m2(6.5±0.5m2),仔猪角面积为0.5~1.8m2(1.1±0.4m2),母猪可用面积(总面积-仔猪角面积)为3.9~6.4m2(5.4±0.6m2)。这些结果表明,母猪有很大的变化,瑞典商业仔猪生产农场的围栏和仔猪角尺寸。这会带来母猪和围栏尺寸不匹配的风险(围栏相对于母猪尺寸太短),尤其是对于年龄较大的母猪。这些发现对动物福利和生产具有实际意义,并强调了设计适应未来母猪的松散围栏的重要性。凋落物和仔猪大小。