Reproduction performances and conditions of group-housed non ...

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- Paper IV - hour after mixing (Kongsted et al., 2004). However, sows involved in many aggressions at weaning had the fewest skin lesions three weeks after mating (Kongsted et al., 2004). As a consequence, any stress experienced by these old, and probably high ranked sows (Arey & Edwards, 1998) might have been too short lasting to influence their reproduction. The number of skin lesions has previously shown to correlate with incidences of aggressive acts (Barnett et al., 1992). However, not only physical contact but also treats and visual contact may cause stress in the submissive sows (Ruis et al., 2002). Skin lesions per se may therefore be inadequate to determine levels of stress. Finally, the lack of relation between reproduction and fear could partly be due to the timing of the fear tests. Fearfulness towards humans around oestrus might decrease the chance of a correct timing of ovulation and in- semination (Kongsted, 2004a). However, the fear tests were not performed on the observation day around mating because the oestrus behaviour of the sows made the test results unreliable (Kongsted et al., 2004). Therefore, the fear tests were only carried out at weaning and three weeks after mating, and it cannot be excluded that the fearfulness of the sows at that time were different compared to around mating. In conclusion, with the heterogeneity of the herds involved and the non-standardisation of possible influential factors related to layout and management in mente, the found relations are noteworthy. Taken together, the results indicate that the individual variation in feed intake in sows group housed in commercial herds may be large enough to impair pregnancy rate and perhaps also litter size. However, it cannot be excluded that the found associations between back fat and reproduction are linked to social stress. The relations between indicators of feed intake and reproduction performance may not only be a consequence of feed intake per se but a combination of low feed intake and a high level of social stress in the low ranked sows. Additional studies are needed to illuminate the role of social stress in commercial sow herds further. Special attention should be aimed at developing additional indicators of social stress suitable for use in practical pig production. Acknowledgements The author wishes to thank the participating farmers and the technicians Henrik K. Andersen, Kristine R. Hansen, Michael Hansen, Orla Nielsen, Niels H. Thomsen, and Helge Yde for their much appreciated assistance in carrying out the data collection. The author also wishes to express her gratitude to John E. Hermansen and Troels Kristensen for valuable comments on this paper and to Erik Jørgensen for valuable contributions to the statistical analyses. 98
References - Paper IV - Aherne, F.X., Kirkwood, R.N., 1985. Nutrition and sow prolificacy. J. Reprod. Fert. , Suppl. 33, 169-183. Andersen, I.L., Bøe, K., Kristiansen, A.L., 1999. The influence of different feeding arrangements and food type on competition at feeding in pregnant sows. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 65, 91-104. Andersen, I.L., Berg, S., Bøe, K.E. & Edwards, S. 2003. Effect of short term handling on fear of humans and the consequences for maternal abilities of sows. Proceedings of the 37th International Congress of the ISAE, Abano Terme, Italy, June 24-28, 2003. Abstract, Pp. 79 Anderson, L.L., 1975. Embryonic and placental development during prolonged inanition in the pig. Am. J. Physiol. 229, 1687-1694. Arey, D. & Edwards, S.A. 1998. Factors influencing aggression between sows after mixing and the concequences for welfare and production. Livest. Prod. Sci. 56, 61-70. Barnett, J.L., Hemsworth, P.H., Cronin, G.M., Newman, E.A., McCallum, T.H. & Chilton, D. 1992. Effects of pen size, partial stalls and method of feeding on welfare-related behavioural and physiological responses of group-housed pigs. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci34, 207-220. Bates, R.O., Edwards, D.B., Korthals, R.L., 2003. Sow performance when housed either in groups with electronic sow feeder or stalls. Livest. Prod. Sci. 79, 29-35. Baustad, B., Lium, B., 2002. Helse og dyrevelferd i norsk svineproduksjon sett i et internasjonalt perspektiv. Norsk Vet.tidsskrift 114, 87-91. Bonde, M., Rousing, T., Sørensen, J.T. 2003. Human approach test for on-farm use in loose-housed pregnant sows: relation between behaviour and health. Proceedings of the 37th International Congress of the ISAE, Abano Terme, Italy, June 24-28, 2003. Brouns, F., Edwards, S.A., 1994. Social rank and feeding behaviour of group-housed sows fed competitively or ad libitum. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 39, 225-235. Csermely, D. & Wood-Gush, D.G.M. 1990. Agonistic behaviour in grouped sows. II. How social rank affects feeding and drinking behaviour. Boll. Zool. 57, 55-58. Dourmad, J.Y., Étienne, M., Prunier, A., Noblet, J., 1994. The effect of energy and protein intake of sows on their longevity: a review. Livest. Prod. Sci. 40, 87-97. Dyck, G.W., Strain, J.H., 1983. Postmating feeding level effects on conception rate and embryo survival in gilts. Cana. J. Anim. Sci. 63, 579. England, D.C., Spurr, D.T., 1969. Litter size of swine confined during gestation. J. Anim. Sci. 28, 220-223. Fisker, B.N., 1995. Indsættelsesstrategi for gruppefodrede drægtige søer. Meddelelse 311, Landsudvalget for Svin, Den rullende Afprøvning, 7pp. Gjein, H., Larssen, R.B., 1995. Housing of pregnant sows in loose and confined systems - a field study. 1. Vulva and body lesions, culling reasons and production results. Acta vet. Scand. 36, 185-200. 99
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Reproduction performances and condi
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Contents Summary………………
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Paper II - Summary - A review of 15
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- Sammendrag - SAMMENDRAG Antallet
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- Sammendrag - søgt. Positive korr
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- Background and aim - systems and
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- Outline of this thesis - OUTLINE
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- How does group housing vary in pr
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- How does group housing vary in pr
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- Paper I - Effect of energy intake
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- Paper I - 1. Introduction The num
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- Paper I - Therefore, the aim of t
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Refer ence Table 1. Effect of energ
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- Paper I - Therefore, low energy s
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Table 2. Effect of energy intake in
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- Paper I - However, this does not
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Table 3. Effect of energy intake in
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- Paper I - Feeding sows 16, 27 or
Page 44 and 45: - Paper I - gonadotrophins (LH, FSH
Page 46 and 47: - Paper I - the first four weeks af
Page 48 and 49: - Paper I - Cosgrove, J.R., Foxcrof
Page 50 and 51: - Paper I - Matschke, G.H., 1964. T
Page 52: - Paper I - Tribble, L.F., Orr, D.E
Page 55 and 56: - Paper III - Indicators of feed in
Page 57 and 58: - Paper III - 1. Introduction The n
Page 59 and 60: Table 1. Applied feeding and housin
Page 61 and 62: - Paper III - performed. The sow ha
Page 63 and 64: - Paper III - proximately three wee
Page 65 and 66: - Paper III - Table 3. Overall mean
Page 67 and 68: Table 5. Correlations between all c
Page 69 and 70: Back fat W, mm Back fat gain, AM-F,
Page 71 and 72: - Paper III - from three weeks afte
Page 73 and 74: - Paper III - Number of skin lesion
Page 75 and 76: - Paper III - In herds practising g
Page 77 and 78: - Paper III - Previous work have fo
Page 79 and 80: References - Paper III - Andersen,
Page 81 and 82: - Paper III - Kongsted, A.G. 2004a.
Page 83 and 84: - Paper IV - Relation between repro
Page 85 and 86: - Paper IV - 1. Introduction Group
Page 87 and 88: - Paper IV - ing compared to number
Page 89 and 90: - Paper IV - mixed model using the
Page 91 and 92: Table 2. Estimates and standard err
Page 93: - Paper IV - cial effect on high ra
Page 97 and 98: - Paper IV - Olsson, A.-C., Svendse
Page 99 and 100: - General discussion - GENERAL DISC
Page 101 and 102: - General discussion - However, an
Page 103 and 104: References - General discussion - A
Page 105 and 106: - Conclusions - 6. CONCLUSIONS Two
Page 107 and 108: - Appendix 1 - APPENDIX 1 LITTER SI
Page 109 and 110: - Appendix 1 - they are mature i.e.
Page 111 and 112: - Appendix 1 - Soon after ovulation
Page 113 and 114: - Appendix 1 - Crombie, P.L., 1970.
Page 115: - Appendix 1 - Scott, M.A., 2000. A
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