The farrowing crate has been designed to prevent crushing of newborn piglets but restricts sow movement throughout lactation with the result of sow problems such as stereotypies and leg weakness. To improve the sows' and piglets' welfare and meet the requirements of commercial production, the combination of individual farrowing crates, to control the piglet mortality in the first stage, with group housed multisuckling systems to restore the social environment of the sow have been investigated (Petchy, Dodsworth and English, 1978; Bryant, Rowlinson and Steen, 1983; Andersson and Andreasson, 1992; Sinclair, 1993). The change of environment can, however, lead to problems of the sows fighting on the day of mixing and possible increase in piglet mortality by crushing (Andersson and Andreasson, 1992, Sinclair, 1993). The use of a multisuckling system with Meishan crossbreds may utilise the benefits of docile temperament, enhance pig welfare and meet the economic requirements of commercial production.