INTENSIVE (COMMERCIAL) SYSTEMS FOR BREEDING SOWS AND PIGLETS TO WEANING

This chapter describes and discusses some of the present day housing s ystems in the breeding section, dry sow unit and farrowing and lactati on units in commercial pig production. These are 'intensive systems', wherein an attempt is made to have an efficient use of the available r esources in the northern temperate zone. The recent and the future dev elopments are briefly considered. The biological requirements of the a nimals at the different production stages and the problems encountered are also explained, especially with respect to welfare and commercial requirements. In addition the role of the stockperson for the success of these systems is noted. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.