B. Bunger et E. Kallweit, ETHOLOGICAL STUDIES ON PREGNANT SOWS IN A DYNAMIC GROUP-HOUSING SYSTEM WITH RATIONED INDIVIDUAL FEEDING BY ONE ELECTRONIC FEEDER STATION, Landbauforschung Volkenrode, 44(2), 1994, pp. 151-166
A group-housing system with one electronic feeder station for 26 to 32
pregnant gilts and sows was evaluated ethologically. All animals (n=3
1, German Landrace) were observed continuously and directly for 84 h.
Simultaneously, their behaviour was recorded on video. Main points of
the ethological study were the use of lying areas, the function of the
corridors, use of the feeder station and of the water nipples, time a
nalysis of feeding behaviour in the feeder station for each individual
, straw orientated behaviour, the locations of aggressive interactions
between sows and the occurrence of the behavioural disturbances bar b
iting, tongue-playing or vacuum chewing. In general it appears, that t
his group-housing system is a practical alternative to the individual
confinement of pregnant sows. Between farrowings, sows have the opport
uny for locomotion for a 3 months period. The study has provided some
indications of improvement of the housing and feeding of sows in this
system.