Farrowing systems in the pig sector have a type of housing in crates from the week before farrowing until the piglets are weaned. This type of housing has been adopted to reduce, as far as possible, the crushing piglets by the sow. However, these farrowing systems do not satisfy the sow's freedom of movement. Under the pressure of European public opinion through the "End the Cage Age" initiative, the European Commission has committed itself to legislate on the subject and abolish the use of these cage housing. One of the proposals are alternative farrowing cages that present the opportunity to leave the sow to temporary confinement during the farrowing and lactation phase. Consequently, that solution can meet both problems, the crushing of piglets and the limitation of the freedom of sows. The aim of this research was to identify the ideal time to open alternative farrowing cages at different distances (third, fourth, fifth and sixth day) after farrowing. In relation to the time of opening, the parity order factor was also evaluated to understand if the age/experience of the sow can have a relationship with the crushing and growth of piglets. The data collected involved a sample of 255 sows and a total of 3254 live born piglets, of which 179 were crushed during the observation period. The study was carried out with the Evoteck Welsafe model crates. For each thesis examined, at least 14 sows were evaluated for each of the 5 cycles observed during the experimentation period. The assessment of the average daily gain of piglets was performed on a total of 74 litters. The results obtained confirm that the greatest number of crushing occur within the first 24 hours after farrowing (p-value <0.0001) and that multiparous sows (with at least two parts) tend to crush more frequently than primiparous, especially on the day of farrowing (p-value 0.028) and beyond the third day after farrowing (p-value 0.021). As for the other results obtained, they were not statistically significant. However, a lower crushing rate could be observed in cases where the cage was opened on the third and fourth days after farrowing compared to the opening on the fifth and sixth days, contrary to the general opinion of farmers. As regards the average daily gain of piglets compared to the theses considered, a higher value was observed with crate opening on the sixth day compared to the other cases. It would be appropriate to collect more data on this type of housing, although the results obtained can be a starting point for farmers in the management of these types of cages. It is also suggested that environmental enrichments be added for both sow and piglets to further satisfy the welfare conditions of these animals.
Le sale parto per le scrofe secondo la normativa vigente prevedono un tipo di stabulazione in gabbia dalla settimana prima del parto fino allo svezzamento dei suinetti. Questa tipologia di stabulazione è stata adottata per ridurre, per quanto possibile, il fenomeno dello schiacciamento dei suinetti da parte della madre; con ciò però non viene soddisfatta la libertà di movimento della scrofa. Sotto la spinta dell’opinione pubblica europea con l’iniziativa “End the Cage Age”, la Commissione Europea si è impegnata a legiferare sul tema e abolire l’uso di queste stabulazioni in gabbia. Una delle proposte per soddisfare entrambe le problematiche, lo schiacciamento dei suinetti e la limitazione della libertà delle scrofe, sono le gabbie parto alternative che permettono di tenere la scrofa per un periodo molto breve dopo il parto con un confinamento temporaneo durante la fase parto-allattamento. Lo scopo di questa ricerca è stato di individuare quale sia il momento ideale per aprire le gabbie parto alternative a diversa distanza (terzo, quarto, quinto e sesto giorno) dal parto utilizzando dei box parto Evoteck modello Welsafe. In relazione al momento di apertura è stato anche valutato il fattore ordine di parto per capire se l’età e l’esperienza della scrofa può avere una relazione con lo schiacciamento e l’accrescimento dei suinetti. I dati raccolti hanno interessato un campione di 255 scrofe e un totale di 3254 suinetti nati vivi, dei quali 179 sono stati schiacciati nel corso del periodo di osservazione. Per ciascuna tesi presa in esame si sono valutati almeno 14 scrofe per ognuno dei 5 cicli osservati nel periodo della sperimentazione. La valutazione dell’accrescimento medio giornaliero dei suinetti è stata eseguita su un totale di 74 nidiate. I risultati ottenuti confermano che il maggior numero di schiacciamenti avvengono entro le prime 24 ore dal parto (p-value <0.0001) e che le scrofe pluripare hanno la tendenza a schiacciare con maggior frequenza rispetto alle primipare, specialmente al giorno del parto (p-value 0.028) e oltre il terzo giorno dal parto (p-value 0.021). Seppur in assenza di significatività statistica, si è osservato un tasso di schiacciamento minore nei casi in cui l’apertura della gabbia è stata più precoce (terzo e quarto giorno dal parto). Questo risultato è in contrasto con l’opinione generale degli allevatori che sono preoccupati di avere più perdite se si apre troppo presto la gabbia. Per l’accrescimento medio giornaliero dei suinetti rispetto alle tesi considerate si è osservato un valore maggiore con apertura della gabbia al sesto giorno rispetto agli altri casi. Sarebbe indicato aumentare la base dati per confermare i risultati relativi all’apertura della gabbia al terzo giorno dal parto, dato che risulta essere l’opzione più favorevole per soddisfare il benessere della scrofa e aver un tasso di schiacciamento dei suinetti accettabile. Si suggerisce inoltre l’aggiunta di arricchimenti ambientali sia per la scrofa che per i suinetti così da soddisfare ulteriormente le condizioni di benessere di questi.
La gestione delle scrofe in box parto aperti. Quali conseguenze per i suinetti?
MOSCON, ELISA
2022/2023
Abstract
Farrowing systems in the pig sector have a type of housing in crates from the week before farrowing until the piglets are weaned. This type of housing has been adopted to reduce, as far as possible, the crushing piglets by the sow. However, these farrowing systems do not satisfy the sow's freedom of movement. Under the pressure of European public opinion through the "End the Cage Age" initiative, the European Commission has committed itself to legislate on the subject and abolish the use of these cage housing. One of the proposals are alternative farrowing cages that present the opportunity to leave the sow to temporary confinement during the farrowing and lactation phase. Consequently, that solution can meet both problems, the crushing of piglets and the limitation of the freedom of sows. The aim of this research was to identify the ideal time to open alternative farrowing cages at different distances (third, fourth, fifth and sixth day) after farrowing. In relation to the time of opening, the parity order factor was also evaluated to understand if the age/experience of the sow can have a relationship with the crushing and growth of piglets. The data collected involved a sample of 255 sows and a total of 3254 live born piglets, of which 179 were crushed during the observation period. The study was carried out with the Evoteck Welsafe model crates. For each thesis examined, at least 14 sows were evaluated for each of the 5 cycles observed during the experimentation period. The assessment of the average daily gain of piglets was performed on a total of 74 litters. The results obtained confirm that the greatest number of crushing occur within the first 24 hours after farrowing (p-value <0.0001) and that multiparous sows (with at least two parts) tend to crush more frequently than primiparous, especially on the day of farrowing (p-value 0.028) and beyond the third day after farrowing (p-value 0.021). As for the other results obtained, they were not statistically significant. However, a lower crushing rate could be observed in cases where the cage was opened on the third and fourth days after farrowing compared to the opening on the fifth and sixth days, contrary to the general opinion of farmers. As regards the average daily gain of piglets compared to the theses considered, a higher value was observed with crate opening on the sixth day compared to the other cases. It would be appropriate to collect more data on this type of housing, although the results obtained can be a starting point for farmers in the management of these types of cages. It is also suggested that environmental enrichments be added for both sow and piglets to further satisfy the welfare conditions of these animals.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12608/49945