Tethered versus loose sows: ethological observations and measures of productivity: II. Production results.
Production results as well as behaviour were registered in an experiment with tethered and loose housed sows. In two of the experimental groups the sows were neck-tethered during pregnancy. In one of these two groups the sows were also neck-tethered in a farrowing crate during farrowing and lactation (exp. group TT), while in the other group they were loose (exp. group TL). In the last two of the four experimental groups the sows were loose in social groups of 2 to 5 during pregnancy. In one of these two groups the sows were also loose during farrowing and lactation (exp. group LL), while in the other group they were neck-tethered in a farrowing crate (exp. group LT). There were no statistically significant differences between the four groups in number of born alive or stillborn. Group LT, where the sows were tethered in the farrowing and lactation period only, had a significantly higher number of sows needing birth assistance and a tendency towards a higher incidence of MMA complex than the other three groups. No significant differences between the four groups were found in either number of pigs per litter at 7.21 and 56 days (weaning), or total number of dead or percentage dead pigs in the lactation period, or in number of traumatic pigs or pigs with arthritis. The group LT, however, had a strong tendency towards lower weaning weight per litter than the other groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology; D001831:Body Temperature; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D006799:Housing, Animal; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D007774:Lactation; D008098:Litter Size; D009026:Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D012098:Reproduction; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000662:veterinary*; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology