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December 18, 2020
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Production, Swine Innovation Porc, Welfare

Multiple Choices: Group Housing a Test for Researchers

Transitioning to group sow housing involves major renovations and changes to daily management. One of the best resources on the transition is the producers who have already switched over. An important consideration to make is which feeding system to use. Many of the early adopters chose electronic sow feeding (ESF) systems since there is greater control of individual feeding and it can accommodate higher sow numbers per square foot compared...

Shannon White
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December 16, 2020
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Production, Swine Innovation Porc, Welfare

New Measures in Assessing Sow Lameness

Animal well-being and economic viability depend on being able to identify risk factors affecting sow longevity and welfare. New technologies to measure lameness are being developed, along with assessment tools for figuring out temperament traits are being researched. These can be used to improve animal selection for housing systems. By detecting lameness early, an improved financial position and higher production efficiency can be achieved. New Measures in Assessing Sow Lameness (full...

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November 24, 2020
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Annual Report, Production, Research, Welfare

Finding Effective Enrichments for Group Housed Sows

Group housing is a socially enriched environment, but aggression is still a risk due to competition for resources like territory and food. Providing enrichment can reduce aggression and stereotypic behaviours. The Canadian Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs requires that barns have multiple forms of enrichment but how it should be provided and what form it should be in is unclear. Different types of enrichment were...

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November 23, 2020
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Annual Report, Nutrition, Production, Research, Welfare

Impact of Calcium and Phosphorus on Sow Lameness and Sow Longevity

As sow productivity continues to improve, dietary mineral recommendations are evolving. Physiological and anatomical demands on the skeletal system are increasing so higher dietary levels of minerals like phosphorus and calcium are recommended. The modern, highly prolific sow has not had much research done on the calcium requirement needed. It may differ as milk requirements are for a larger litter now and sows may need to mobilize calcium from their...

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November 23, 2020
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Annual Report, Production, Research, Welfare

Effect of Rubber Flooring and Social Grouping on the Utilization of Free Space for Sows in Walk-in/Lock-in Stalls

A gestation stall alternative are walk-in/lock-in stalls, a group housing design that gives sows a choice to the communal area or to remain in the stall while providing individual feeding protection. Most sows use the free space area, but they did not use it for any extended period of time. The majority used it for less that 5% of their time, with the average being around 18%, so the benefits...

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November 23, 2020
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Annual Report, Production, Research, Welfare

Early Detection and Interventions for Reducing Lameness in Gestating Sows

One of the most common reasons for culling sows in lameness. Overall herd productivity, sow welfare and sow productivity can be increased if treatment and prevention of lameness is implemented. In order for sows to generate profit, they must remain in the herd for a minimum of three parities. With the move to group housing, sow mobility will be a more important issue, so options are needed to benefit the...

Shannon White
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November 20, 2020
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Annual Report, Production, Research, Welfare

Assessment of Lameness, Productivity and Longevity in Group and Individually Housed Gestating Sows

There may be several major welfare issues in facility design and sow management for group sow housing. One of the most important welfare issues is lameness. It is the second major cause of culling after reproductive failure. visual scores can be used to measure lameness in pigs, but a more objective method could use accelerometers and kinematics. Information gathered on many variables will complement a group housed sow longevity model....

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November 20, 2020
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Annual Report, Production, Research, Welfare

Effects of Temperament and Floor Space Allowance on Sows at Grouping

Producers are changing their facilities to group housing for sows. Spacious accommodation has been shown to reduce aggression and increase general health but the point of crowding is not known. Observations were made in order to configure space requirements and social groups. More space was needed when the sows were lying laterally. This was needed most between midnight and 8am. The minimum requirement physically is 1.51m2/sow, though this does not...

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November 19, 2020
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Annual Report, Production, Research, Welfare

Free Space Utilization of Sows in Free Access Stalls

Group housing systems can produce more active and social sows, leading to a healthier pigs. It will increase muscle strength and decrease lameness with stronger bones from the ability to move around. An example of a group housing system is free access stalls. The degree to which sows actually use the free space is not well understood. In this experiment, 95% of sows used the free space, though not for...

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November 6, 2020
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Centred on Swine, Production, Research, Welfare

Gestation Housing Systems, Auditing Best Management Practices

The deadline to convert to group sow housing systems is 2024. In order to help this transition go smoothly, best management practices were looked at in 24 Canadian farms. Two thirds of the barns that have already switched over use non-competitive systems such as free-access or electronic sow feeding (ESF) systems. The direct competitive feeding system is typically cheaper when converting, though ESF systems collect data that can be used...

Shannon White
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