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Suckling frequency of group housed sows in two different space allocations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 November 2021

J. Burke ,
P.H. Brooks ,
J.A. Kirk  and
J.C. Eddison
J. Burke
Affiliation:
Seale-Hayne, Food and Land Use, University of Plymouth, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 6NQ, United Kingdom
P.H. Brooks
Affiliation:
Seale-Hayne, Food and Land Use, University of Plymouth, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 6NQ, United Kingdom
J.A. Kirk
Affiliation:
Seale-Hayne, Food and Land Use, University of Plymouth, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 6NQ, United Kingdom
J.C. Eddison
Affiliation:
Seale-Hayne, Food and Land Use, University of Plymouth, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 6NQ, United Kingdom
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Extract

The more frequent the opportunities for piglets to suckle, the higher their milk intake and subsequent liveweight gain during lactation (Newberry and Wood-Gush 1984). Studies of sows in communal farrowing systems revealed that suckling frequency decreased from week 2 of lactation onwards (Houwers, Buré and Koomans 1992; Boe 1993). The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of two different space allocations on the suckling frequency of group housed sows and on litter performance to day 17 of lactation.

Four groups of four multiparous sows were allocated to one of two pen areas, in a loose house farrowing system from 5 days before the expected farrowing date until the oldest litter was 21 days of age. The two pen areas provided 13.4m2 (L) and 8.6m2 (S) per sow respectively. A row of four farrowing enclosures, fitted with heated piglet creep areas and deeply bedded with straw, were provided, within an otherwise unbedded pen.

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Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science , Volume 1998 , 1998 , pp. 121
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 1998

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References

Boe, K. 1993. Maternal Behaviour of Lactating Sows in a Loose Housing System. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 35, 327–338.10.1016/0168-1591(93)90084-3CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Houwers, H. W. J., Buré, R. G. and Koomans, P. 1992. Behaviour of Sows in a Free Access Farrowing Section. Farm Building Progress, 109, (July), 9–11.Google Scholar
Newberry, R. C. and Wood-Gush, D. G. M. 1984. The Suckling Behaviour of Domestic Pigs in a Semi-Natural Environment. Behaviour, 95, 11–25.10.1163/156853985X00028CrossRefGoogle Scholar