Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
suckling and earlier development of suckling behaviour, which are advantageous for
early milk intake by piglets (Herskin
et al.
, 1999). Farrowing crates appear to prohibit
interactions between the sow and her piglets to some extent, and the provision of space
during parturition could facilitate the performance of maternal behaviour.
Sows kept in farrowing crates with no nest-building material had significantly lower
oxytocin concentrations during farrowing than sows kept in loose-housed pens with
abundant nest-building materials (Oliviero
et al.
, 2008a). Recent results show that a
plentiful supply of nesting materials prior to parturition leads to an increase in sow plasma
oxytocin concentrations from 3 days prior to parturition until 7 days postpartum (Yun
et al.
, 2013). This indicates a potential association between nest-building possibilities
induced by abundant nesting materials and circulating oxytocin concentrations in
peripartal sows. In this study, however, sows housed in loose pens with limited nesting
materials did not have greater oxytocin concentrations than sows in confined farrowing
crates with an equally limited amount of nesting materials. This indicates that abundant
nesting materials may make a greater contribution to increased oxytocin concentrations
than non-confinement of loose-housed pens (Yun
et al.
, 2013).
Recent studies revealed that farrowing housing using crates requires extra udder
stimulation by the piglets to obtain milk in the early lactation period (Yun
et al.
, 2013).
This prolonged udder massage might disturb the sow because it cannot be avoided in the
crate, likely resulting in poor welfare because of inadequate coping mechanisms of the
sow to this prolonged stress caused by the piglets. Indeed, Oliviero
et al.
(2008a) reported
that sows in farrowing crates might have difficulty in denying the nursing activity of
piglets, resulting in greater salivary cortisol concentrations when compared with sows
in loose-housed pens (Figure 10.2). When sows are provided with abundant nesting
material, they show a greater incidence of careful pre-lying behaviour and appear to
perform better maternal behaviour in order to care for their offspring (Yun
et al.,
2013). It
can be concluded that provision of suitable space and nesting material before parturition
can improve sow welfare by providing opportunities for sows to express their normal
behaviour and by reducing potential stresses during the nursing period.
10.8
Body condition, fat metabolism and gut function at
farrowing
10.8.1
Body condition and fat metabolism
At the time of farrowing, the sow's metabolism has already switched to a catabolic state, at
which point she uses most of her body reserves to produce large quantities of milk (Van
den Brand and Kemp, 2005). Rising levels of blood non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA)
is a clear indicator of a catabolic state associated with severe body weight loss and low
feed intake (Messias de Branganca and Prunier, 1999). It was reported that circulating
concentrations of NEFA increase rapidly a few days before farrowing, reaching a peak on
the day of parturition (Le Cozler
et al.,
1999; Oliviero
et al.,
2009). As the sow approaches
farrowing, her body prioritises the impending parturition and begins producing milk.
