FACTORS AFFECTING THE CHOICE OF FARROWING SITE IN SOWS

Factors affecting the choice of farrowing site in sows was investigate d in three experiments. All experiments were carried out in a 6.5 m X 7 m test arena with a 2 m X 2 m pen in one comer. Sows were observed i ndividually for 8 h day-1 from 4 days before farrowing was due, until farrowing actually occurred. Sows were fed 2.2 kg day-1 of a standard sow diet. In Experiment 1, six multiparous sows and six gilts were obs erved. The feeder and drinker were located in a small pen and the pig was shut into the pen overnight. In both Experiment 2a and 2b six mult iparous sows were used and the feeder and drinker were located in the test arena opposite the small pen. The sows were shut out of the small pen at night in Experiment 2a and in Experiment 2b were allowed acces s to both pens at all times. In Experiment 1 all of the sows and three of the gilts farrowed in the small pen, and the other three gilts far rowed outside the test arena. Two sows farrowed in the small pen and f our in the test arena in Experiment 2b. It is concluded that feeder an d drinker location affects choice of farrowing site, and that the appa rent preference shown by sows for enclosed farrowing sites may be infl uenced by restrictive feeding regimes.