Behavioral changes of sows with changes in flattening rate

• Published in: Journal of animal science and technology Vol. 64; no. 3; pp. 564 - 573
• Main Authors: Ka-Young, Yang, Dong-hwa, Jang, Kyeong-seok, Kwon, Taehwan, Ha, Jong-bok, Kim, Jae Jung, Ha, Jun-Yeob, Lee, Jung Kon, Kim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 01.05.2022
• Subjects: Floor; Sow; Behavior; Welfare; Group housing
• ISSN: 2672-0191; 2093-6281

In this study, considering the difficulties for all farms to convert farm styles to animal welfare-based housing, an experiment was performed to observe the changes in the behavior and welfare of sows when the slat floor was changed to a collective breeding ground. Twenty-eight sows used in this study were between the second and fifth parities to minimize the influence of parity. Using a flats floor cover, the flattening rates were treated as 0%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%. Data collection was the behavior of sows visually observed using a camera (e.g., standing, lying, fighting and excessive biting behaviors, and abnormal behaviors) and the animal welfare level measured through field visits. Lying behavior was found to be higher (p < 0.01) as the flattening rate increased, and sows lying on the slatted cover also increased as the flattening rate increased (p < 0.01). Fighting behavior wasincreased when the flattening rate was increased to 20%, and chewing behavior was increased (p < 0.05) as the flattening rate increased. The animal welfare level of sows, 'good feeding', it was found that all treatment groups for body condition score and water were good at 100 (p < 0.05). 'Good housing' was the maximum value (100) in each treatment group. As the percentage of floor increased, the minimum good housing was increased from 78 in 0% flattening rate to 96 in 50% flattening rate. The maximum (100) 'good health' was achieved in the 0% and 20% flattening rates, and it was 98, 98, and 99 in the 30%, 50%, and 40% flattening rate, respectively. 'Appropriate behavior' score was significantly lower than that of other paremeters, but when the flattening ratio was 0% and 20%, the maximum and minimum values were 10. At 40% and 50%, the maximum values were 39 and 49, respectively, and the minimum values were analyzed as 19 for both 40% and 50%. These results will be used as basic data about sow welfare for farmers to successfully transition to group housing and flat floors.