Open Cage Farrowing System: Balancing Welfare and Productivity

The transition to open cage farrowing systems (also known as temporary crates) represents a pivotal advancement in improving animal welfare in pig production. This shift responds to increasing societal and legislative demands for more ethical livestock management. However, it introduces significant challenges for both farmers and animals, requiring a re-evaluation of traditional management practices. This study investigates the management of sows in open cage farrowing systems, focusing on welfare, productivity, and practical implementation. The key areas of exploration include housing design to balance sow freedom and piglet safety, addressing the behavioural and physiological needs of sows, and mitigating health risks such as crushing and hygiene concerns. The study monitored farrowing outcomes in 40 sows divided into two groups: a) Control group (C), where sows were housed in closed temporary crates from farrowing to weaning, and b) Open Sows group (OS), where the crates were opened on day 3 postpartum. Data collection included litter weight measurements at days 1, 8, 15, and 25 postpartum, health indicators for piglets (e.g., diarrhoea, limb disorders), sow dry matter intake, and sow health indicators. The findings revealed a higher incidence of piglet crushing in the OS group compared to the C group after cage opening (10.2% vs. 2.4%; p<0.01), with a greater proportion of OS sows involved in crushing episodes (60.0% vs. 25.0%; p<0.05). At weaning, while the average number of piglets per litter was higher in the C group (13.1 vs. 12.0; p<0.001), no differences were found in number of total weaned piglets per group (262 C vs 240 OS; p = 0.157), and the average piglet weight was greater in the OS group (7.69 kg vs. 6.64 kg; p<0.001). These results emphasise the trade-offs in open cage farrowing systems: while increased sow mobility may elevate the risk of piglet crushing, it also improves piglet growth and weaning weights without reducing the total number of weaned piglets. From an economic perspective, the higher growth rates and weaning weights in the OS group may help offset crushing losses, offering a potential pathway to greater confidence in the economic sustainability of alternative farrowing systems. The results provide a critical foundation for addressing farmer concerns about open cage farrowing systems, proving that such systems, while challenging, can align animal welfare improvements with economic viability through careful management practices.