Management of group-housed sows: Impact of grouping practices on sow reproductive performance and piglet development – Year Two

The practice of mixing sows shortly after breeding (MPI) is a practical approach for loose housing that is gaining popularity in commercial herds. However, the effects of dynamic grouping (in which newly bred sows are moved into an already established gestation group) in conjunction with MPI may result in stress during the implantation period, and heightened stress for sows throughout gestation. There is increasing evidence that stressors experienced by the mother during pregnancy can have lasting consequences for the biology of her offspring. Findings from previous studies indicate that, depending on the timing and severity of the stressor, pre-natal stress can impair piglet growth, physiological adaptability, immune function and behaviour. As the Canadian swine industry undergoes a period of transition from stalls to group gestation housing, understanding how management of the gestating sow can influence the welfare, health and productivity of piglets is an important question. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Yolande Seddon

Student:

Partner:

Prairie Swine Centre Inc

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

University of Saskatchewan

Program: