Shuang Luo, Jen-Yun Chou – Many producers worry that a move from sow stalls to group sow housing could hurt productivity, especially due to pregnancy loss or fertility problems. Researchers looked at records from 12 commercial swine farms in Saskatchewan—six using stalls and six using group housing. All farms used the same genetics, feed, and management. The team analyzed farm data to compare key performance measures such as piglets born alive and sow fertility.
Overall, group-housed sows had fewer stillborn piglets and more piglets born alive. Fertility results were mixed: young females (gilts) struggled more in groups, but older sows performed as well as—or better than—stall-housed animals. For producers, this suggests group housing can work well. The main focus should be improving management for gilts as they enter the breeding herd.
Comparing groups and stalls – what does the data say? (full article)
