Investigator(s): Emma Baxter
There are animal welfare concerns about the continued use of close confinement maternity systems for expectant and lactating sows. Allowing greater behavioural and physical freedom for the sow raises concerns about increased piglet mortality risk from overlying. Higher welfare maternity systems exist but uptake needs optimisation of pens, people and pigs. This latter aspect will involve breeding for improved maternal behaviours such as carefulness around lying, as well as physical traits related to being ‘fit to farrow’, such as leg conformation ensuring supported posture changes as well as nimbleness to respond to piglet distress calls.
The project will fund a Masters by Research to analyse existing data to identify traits of sows best suited to farrow (give birth) in high welfare maternity systems. This fits the ‘breeding for welfare’ scope within BVA’s policy position and will support efforts to address one of the most persistent welfare concerns for pigs – namely the use of close confinement maternity systems (farrowing crates).
Factors contributing to high performance of sows in free farrowing systems: this study, from Emma Baxter’s research part-funded by AWF, on “What makes a good free farrowing sow?”, examined piglet mortality on three commercial farms using four different zero-confinement farrowing systems, three of which were newly installed.
Watch Emma Baxter’s presentation at the 2023 Discussion Forum
To go further:
Focus on farrowing crates in this Vet Record article