Effects of farrowing stall layout and number of heat lamps on sow and piglet behavior

Authors: LEONARD, SUZANNE - Iowa State University; XIN, HONGWEI - University Of Tennessee; BROWN-BRANDL, TAMMI - University Of Nebraska; RAMIREZ, BRETT - Iowa State University; JOHNSON, ANNA - Iowa State University; DUTTA, SOMAK - Iowa State University; Rohrer, Gary

Submitted to: Applied Animal Behaviour Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2021
Publication Date: 6/1/2021
Citation: Leonard, S.M., Xin, H., Brown-Brandl, T.M., Ramirez, B.C., Johnson, A.K., Dutta, S., Rohrer, G.A. 2021. Effects of farrowing stall layout and number of heat lamps on sow and piglet behavior. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 239. Article 105334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105334.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105334

Interpretive Summary: Farrowing stalls are used in the swine industry to reduce pre-weaning piglet mortality and enable individual animal management. The quantity and quality of space provided for sows and piglets in farrowing stalls is an important welfare consideration. To further explore the impacts of farrowing stall space allocation, a field study was conducted to compare sow and piglet behavior when housed in three farrowing stall layouts: 1) a layout typically used in commercial production (T – traditional), 2) an expanded layout where the additional space is allocated for the piglets (EC – expanded creep area), and 3) an expanded layout where additional space is allocated to the sow (ES – expanded sow area). In addition, the use of one versus two heat lamps (1HL and 2HL, respectively) was tested across all three stall layouts. A computer vision system classified sow posture, sow behavior and piglet location for 325 sows and their litters. Results show sows spent more time lying and less time sitting when provided more space in the ES stall layout compared to T and EC stall layouts. In addition, 2 heat lamps resulted in greater percentage lying compared to only 1 heat lamp. Number of piglets, parity, and farrowing group also influenced postural behavior of sows. Sow postures and behaviors were significantly influenced by day of lactation. Piglets with 2 heat lamps spent more time in the heated zone and less time in the creep and sow zones for all stall layouts on all days of lactation observed. In the ES stall layout, piglets spent a greater percentage of time in the sow zone compared to EC stall layout. This study emphasizes that sow and piglet behavior can be significantly influenced by the farrowing environment. Results can be used to guide farrowing stall designs to better meet the behavioral needs of sows by providing wider sow stalls and the behavioral needs of piglets by providing greater heated areas.

Technical Abstract: Farrowing stalls are used in the United States swine industry to reduce pre-weaning piglet mortality, enable efficient individual animal management, and decrease facility construction and operating costs. The quantity and quality of space provided for sows and piglets in farrowing stalls are important economic and welfare considerations. To further explore the impacts of farrowing stall space allocation, a large-scale field study was conducted to compare sow and piglet behavior when housed in three farrowing stall layouts (TSL – traditional stall layout, ECSL – expanded creep area stall layout, ESCSL – expanded sow and creep area stall layout) with either one or two heat lamps (1HL and 2HL, respectively). A computer vision system classified posture budgets and behaviors of 322 sows and piglet location for 324 litters. Linear mixed models were developed to compare behavior and piglet pre-weaning mortality metrics between experimental treatments. Results show sows in ESCSL spent more time lying compared to sows in ECSL (p = 0.028) and less time sitting compared to sows in TSL and ECSL (p < 0.01). Sows with the 2HL treatment had an increase in percentage lying (p = 0.017) and a decrease in percentage standing (p = 0.045) compared to sows with the 1HL treatment. Number of piglets, parity, and batch also influenced sow postural behavior (p < 0.05). Sow lying orientation was not impacted by HL treatment. Sow postures and behaviors were influenced by day of lactation (p < 0.001). Piglets with 2HL treatment spent more time in the heated region and less time in the creep and sow regions for all stall layouts on all days of lactation observed (p < 0.001). In the ESCSL, piglets had a greater percentage of time in the sow region compared to ECSL piglets (p < 0.004). Piglets did not spend equal percentages of time between the two creep or two HL regions (p < 0.001), and piglet location was correlated with sow lying orientation for most of the creep regions analyzed (p < 0.01). Increases in piglet pre-weaning mortality were correlated with increases in sow lying (p = 0.027) and decreases in standing (p = 0.025) and feeding (p < 0.001). However, correlations with sow posture were likely due to the impacts of day of lactation (p < 0.001). No correlations were found between piglet location and pre-weaning mortality (p> 0.05). Results can guide producers to consider wider sow areas in farrowing stalls to better meet sow behavioral needs and to include larger heated areas to meet piglet behavioral needs during lactation.