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Injuries in confined sows. Incidence and relation with behaviour
Annales De Recherches Veterinaires. Annals of Veterinary Research
|January 1, 1984
Summary
Individual housing systems for dry sows were evaluated for welfare differences using the Ekesbo Method. Neck collar tethering showed significant issues, while other methods were comparable, though system fit and floor quality impacted sow well-being.
Area of Science:
- Animal Welfare Science
- Comparative Animal Husbandry
- Veterinary Public Health
Background:
- Individual housing systems are common for dry sows, raising concerns about potential welfare differences.
- Assessing sow well-being requires reliable methods to evaluate housing conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare welfare-relevant differences between various individual housing systems for dry sows.
- To evaluate the efficacy of the Ekesbo Method for assessing sow well-being in different housing environments.
Main Methods:
- A survey was conducted comparing individual housing systems: stalls, and tethering via neck collar, neck harness, and shoulder girth.
- The Ekesbo Method, assessing integument lesion patterns, was used as the primary indicator of sow well-being.
Main Results:
- Neck collar tethering resulted in significantly higher lesion levels, indicating poor welfare and is strongly discouraged.
- Other housing systems showed largely comparable lesion levels, though system size relative to sow size and floor design (poor quality slats) influenced outcomes.
- Adaptation to tethering and ease of movement (e.g., getting up with shoulder girth) were identified as system-dependent challenges.
Conclusions:
- The Ekesbo Method appears to be a valuable tool for assessing sow well-being across different housing environments.
- While most individual housing systems are comparable, neck collar tethering should be avoided. Careful consideration of system fit and floor quality is crucial for optimizing sow welfare.