Alternatives to Housing Sows in Individual Stalls

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Alternatives to Housing Sows in Individual Stalls

• Donald G. Levis, PhD
• Ohio Pork Industry Center
• The Ohio State University
• Columbus, Ohio 43210-1095
• Telephone [phone]
• Cell phone [phone]
• E-mail levis.7_at_osu.edu

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The Welfare of Sows in Gestation Crates A
Summary of the Scientific Evidence The scientific
evidence is clear gestation stalls cause
physical and mental suffering to sows.
Stall-housed sows cannot exercise and are
deprived of the basic necessity of living space.
As a result, they are weak, suffer leg and joint
problems, and experience difficulty carrying out
simple movements. The barren sow stall does not
meet the sow's social and cognitive needs and
fails to allow for behaviors important to her
species' way of life, and makes the animal
depressed and frustrated to the point that she
must perform repetitive actions in a pitiful
appeal for mental stimulation. In scientific
studies, sows have let us know themselves that
they prefer environments that offer more space
and complexity.

http//www.bancruelfarms.org/evidence.htm
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• Resolution 3, PREGNANT SOW HOUSING
• RESOLVED, that the American Veterinary Medical
  Association (AVMA) adopts the following as the
  AVMA position on the use of stalls for housing
  pregnant sows
• The American Veterinary Medical Association
  supports the use of sow housing configurations
  that
• minimize aggression and competition between
  sows
• protect sows from detrimental effects
  associated with environmental extremes,
  particularly temperature extremes
• reduce exposure to hazards that result in
  injuries
• provide every animal with daily access to
  appropriate food and water and
• facilitate observation of individual sow
  appetite, respiratory rate, urination and
  defecation, and reproductive status by
  caretakers.
• Current scientific literature indicates that
  gestation stalls meet each of the aforementioned
  criteria, provided the appropriate level of
  stockmanship is administered.

Approved by American Veterinary Medical
Association, July 2002
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Are there viable alternatives to housing sows
individually in stalls?
Pictures from National Pork Board
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Schematic of converting existing individual
stall gestation facility into a group-housing
facility
Option A
Feed alley - 36 inches
20 sows per pen
Solid concrete
Gestation Stalls
Slatted area
Rear alley - 24 inches
Solid concrete
Gestation Stalls
Option B
Human entry gate
Stub stall
Feed alley - 36 inches
Gestation Stalls
Movable Gates?
Rear alley - 24 inches
Gestation Stalls
Alley gates
Sow entry gates
Feed alley - 36 inches
Will need non-traditional thinking!
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Schematic of alternative floor plans (totally
slatted floor)
Option D
Standard
Option A
Option B
Option C (pods)
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3
3
3
2
Typical stall
Feed stalls
Feed stalls
20 sows Open area
20 sows Open area
7
7
6
20 sows
6
20 sows
20 sows
Open area
4
2
Open area
5
6
20 sows
20 sows
20 sows
20 sows
20 sows
Typical stall
2.5
7
2
Open area
Open area
4
2
5
Human entry gate
3
3
Feed stalls
2
6
Feed stalls
Typical stall
7
7
6
3
Open area
2
2
Stub
4
2
6
Typical stall
Feed stalls
7
Open area
6
8
2
2.5
3
3
41
41
41
41
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Estimated increase in building space
(500 weaned pigs per week)
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What is the cost to construct a building for 240
gestating sows?

• 240 x 300 72,000
• 240 x 375 90,000
• 240 x 400 96,000
• 240 x 450 108,000
• 240 x 500 120,000

Already have the feeding stalls but, stalls will
need modification! Labor to remove and install
feeding stalls!
Will there be losses in reproductive performance?
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Individual turn-around stalls
Infringement on rights!
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What are the alternatives to the typical
individual gestation stall?

• Group housing indoors with unlocked feeding
  stalls?
• Group housing indoors with
• Locked feeding stalls?
• Electronic feeding stall(s)?
• Group housing indoors with floor feeding?
• Group housing outdoors?

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How much floor space is required per group-housed
gestation sow or gilt?

• United States
• Solid floor 20 sq ft (gilt)
• Solid floor 24 sq ft (sow)
• Partial slat 14 sq ft (gilt)
• Partial slat 16 sq ft (sow)
• Sweden
• 31.7 sq ft (sows gilts)

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Group housing indoors with unlocked feeding stalls
Feeding/loafing stall system
Picture from Texas Tech University
Levis, Australia (1991)
Unlocked feeding stalls allows faster eating
animals the opportunity to steal feed from
another animal. Also, vulva biting occurs.
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Is there another way to successfully feed
group-housed sows and gilts individually indoors
without locking them into a feeding stall?
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Trickle Feeding (Biological Fixation)
At feeding time (controlled by a timer), the feed
is dropped to the bottom of the container and a
second auger delivers the feed according to a
fixed time schedule.
Texas Tech University
The feed is trickled slowly so that the
slowest sow can consume all of her feed and thus
it prevents other sows from stealing their feed.
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Are there self-closing individual feeding
stalls for group-housed gestation sows and gilts?
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Self-closing feeding stalls
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Self-closing feeding stalls
Dr Rebecca Morrison, University of Minnesota West
Central Research and Outreach Center - Morris
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Indoor Group Housing with hand-feeding on floor
Diamond pattern
Levis, Nebraska (1980)
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Arkell Swine Research Station, University of
Guelph, Canada
Photo by Dr. Neil Shantz, Warman, Saskatchewan,
Canada
Dr. Neil Shantz, Warman, Saskatchewan, Canada
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Arkell Swine Research Station, University of
Guelph, Canada
Photo by Dr. Neil Shantz, Warman, Saskatchewan,
Canada
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Arkell Swine Research Station, University of
Guelph, Canada
Photo by Dr. Neil Shantz, Warman, Saskatchewan,
Canada
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Electronic Sow Feeders for Groups of Sows and
Gilts
CFSI Company
Osborne Industries
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Electronic Sow Feeders
Number of sows per feeding station 35 to 40
Levis, United Kingdom (1988)
Option 1 (best) Static groups of sows are
established sows not added after making
group. Option 2 Sows are frequently added and
removed from the group. Farrowing rate and
litter size have been a problem with this
procedure.
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Electronic sow feeder
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Post Mating Management
ESF System
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Deep-Bedded Hoop Gestation Facility for
Group-Housed Sows
Dr Rebecca Morrison, University of Minnesota West
Central Research and Outreach Center - Morris
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Components of a deep-bedded group housing system

• Group size of 15-200 sows
• Deep-bedding of straw, corn stalks?, rice hulls,
  etc.
• Individual feeding stalls, electronic feeders,
  floor feeding.
• 43 ft2/sow (University of Minnesota)

Dr Rebecca Morrison, University of Minnesota West
Central Research and Outreach Center - Morris
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Hoop Gestation Housing
Bedded area per sow 24 sq ft Pen width 15
minimum
How will solid manure be handled? How will
run-off be controlled?
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Deep-Bedded group housingAdvantages

• Reduced capital cost
• Lower energy costs
• Perceived animal welfare benefits
• Increased locomotion, social and exploratory
  behaviors
• ? farrowing time and ? lameness
• Ability to conduct natural behaviors.

Dr Rebecca Morrison, University of Minnesota West
Central Research and Outreach Center - Morris
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• Reproductive performance can be similar to stalls
  if managed correctly.
• Thermal comfort
• Cool during summer
• Warm during winter
• Reduced aggression
• MANAGEMENT!!

Dr Rebecca Morrison, University of Minnesota West
Central Research and Outreach Center - Morris
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Dr Rebecca Morrison, University of Minnesota West
Central Research and Outreach Center - Morris
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Abundant bedding is essential during winter
Dr Rebecca Morrison, University of Minnesota West
Central Research and Outreach Center - Morris
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Photo courtesy of BMI-Australia
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Photo courtesy of BMI-Australia
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Separate hoop for group feeding
Photo courtesy of BMI-Australia
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Separate building with feeding stalls
Photo courtesy of BMI-Australia
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Dr Rebecca Morrison, University of Minnesota West
Central Research and Outreach Center - Morris
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Group Housing Outdoors
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Group Housing Outdoors
Zero run-off?
Levis, Nebraska
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Sometimes outdoor group housing of pigs does not
look good!
Would you want to work in this environment?
Levis, Nebraska
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How does the various housing systems effect
performance?

• Farrowing rate
• Litter size born live
• Dystocia
• Mortality
• Injuries

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Effect of gestation housing system on number of
piglets born
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Effect of gestation housing system on number of
piglets born
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Effect of gestation housing system on number of
piglets born
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Influence of housing method on reproductive
performance (71 farms in Northern Italy)
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The End
We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to
present this information!