Impact of Duration of Farrowing Crate Closure on Physical Indicators of Sow Welfare and Piglet Mortality

• Main Authors: Maria Camila Ceballos, Karen Camille Rocha Góis, Thomas D. Parsons, Meghann Pierdon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-03-01
• Series: Animals
• Subjects: farrow; housing; lactation; hinged farrowing crate
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/4/969

This study examines effects of opening hinged farrowing crates 4 or 7 days post-farrowing. Sows (<i>n</i> = 696) allocated to 3 treatments: PC—crate closed, T4—crate opened day 4, and T7—crate opened day 7 were assessed for body condition score (BCS), lameness, shoulder lesions and teat lesions. Piglet mortality was higher in T4 (27.8%) compared to T7 (23.9%) and PC (25.9%) <i>(p</i> < 0.05) which did not differ with T7 <i>(p</i> > 0.05). No difference in risk of being laid on was found 1–3 days post-farrowing with all crates closed <i>(p</i> > 0.05). Day 4–6, piglets in T4, experienced higher risk of being laid on compared to PC (IRR = 2.5, <i>p</i> < 0.05), and T7 (IRR = 2.3, <i>p</i> < 0.05). Days 7–15 post-farrowing, risk of piglets dying from being laid on was higher in open crates, T4 and T7, versus PC (T4: IRR = 3.89, T7: IRR = 3.5, <i>p</i> < 0.05). We found higher risk for teat lesions in PC sows at weaning (<i>p</i> < 0.05). With crates open, risk of piglets being laid on increased between 7 days and weaning, but total piglet mortality did not differ and the sow’s risk for teat lesions decreased. Our results, therefore, support opening crates at day 7.