Review: Towards truly stall-free pork production?

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Agricultural Engineering
• Veterinary Medicine

Background:

• Individual housing of sows and boars in stalls remains common in commercial pork production, particularly when reproduction or welfare risks are high.
• While gestation stall use has decreased globally, stalls are still employed around weaning, mating, and in farrowing crates.
• The review examines the continued necessity and implications of stall use in specific production stages.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current stall housing practices in pork production.
• To identify challenges associated with removing stalls during critical reproductive phases.
• To assess the feasibility of achieving stall-free pork production through industry adoption.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of stall housing practices in sow and boar management.
• Analysis of challenges in group housing around weaning and mating (e.g., aggression, injury).
• Examination of farrowing crate use and its relation to preweaning piglet mortality.

Main Results:

• Group housing around weaning and mating presents risks of sow aggression, injury, and reduced reproductive performance.
• Farrowing crates are used to mitigate high preweaning mortality, with temporary confinement strategies still involving stall-like conditions.
• Addressing space allowance and staff/animal experience are identified as crucial for stall removal in farrowing.

Conclusions:

• Complete removal of stalls in pork production is contingent on resolving issues in sow group housing and farrowing.
• Mitigating sow aggression and improving piglet survival in stall-free systems are critical for industry adoption.
• Strategic adjustments in space and management could enable a transition to stall-free pork production.