EFFECT OF ADAPTATION TO THE FARROWING CRATE ON WATER-INTAKE OF SOWS

The purpose of this study was to verify whether adaptation to the farr owing crate and to a new watering system in the last days of gestation would result in insufficient water intake and consequently higher inc idence of constipation in sows and litters with low growth rates (prob lem litters). A total of 73 sows was divided into two groups: one bein g introduced into the farrowing crate 25 days before parturition (36 s ows), the other being moved 3-5 days before farrowing (37 sows). Indiv idual apparent daily water consumption (ADWC) was monitored continuous ly with electronic counters. Median ADWC and faecal dry matter content (FDMC) in late gestation and in lactation and incidence of problem li tters were similar among both groups of sows (P > 0.2). Important vari ations in ADWC between sows made interpretation of results difficult. In late gestation, many sows drank large amounts of water above what i s considered as their physiological needs. During the first 2-3 days o f lactation, most sows had low water intakes in conjunction with an in creased FDMC in all sows at day 2 after farrowing. However, FDMC at da y 2 was only correlated with ADWC of sows with problem litters (r = -0 .6).