Influence of housing system during gestation on the behaviour and welfare of gilts in farrowing crates

There is some evidence to show that loose housing during gestation has a ne gative influence on the welfare of sows subsequently in farrowing crates. H owever, little is known about the effects of the gestation housing on the i nitial responses of gilts to the farrowing crate or of the effects on gilt welfare throughout lactation. The objective of this experiment was to evalu ate three gestation housing systems (1) stalls (ST); (2) loose-bedded (LB) and (3) loose-unbedded (LU) pens for their effect on behaviour, heart rate and skin lesion scores of gilts in farrowing crates. During the 1st h in th e farrowing crate, LB gilts were more active, while ST gifts were more voca l. Although heart rates during Me 1st h did not differ significantly betwee n treatments, LB and LU gilts had significantly higher mean heart rates dur ing the first 5 min in the crate, compared with 35 min later posture change s during the first 24 h did not differ between treatments. However there wa s a significant reduction in the number of posture changes made by ST gilts but not LB or LU gilts by day 8. Increases in the skin lesion score of gil ts in all three treatments were observed after 24 h in the crate, further i ncreases were observed post farrowing in both loose treatments. Although no significant differences in the skin lesion score were observed during lact ation, LB gilts were weaned with lower lesion scores than LU or ST gilts. G ilts from both loose treatments experienced greater distress at first intro duction to the farrowing crate. However, the change in environment also had an adverse affect on the welfare of ST gilts. Skin damage and continuing d iscomfort of the loose-housed gilts post farrowing suggests Mat they experi enced more stress at parturition. Bedding during gestation had a beneficial effect on skin health in the farrowing crate that persisted until weaning.