Dynamic sow

The transition from individual housing to group housing of pregnant sows within the EU is driving the development of new housing systems.  Group housing of sows has clear welfare benefits in that the sows have the opportunity to move freely and perform important natural behaviours.

However, the risk of the sows harming each other is high when they are kept in groups and mixed with unknown sows. It is becoming increasingly common for pregnant sows to be kept in systems with electronic feeding and in dynamic groups, where sows from different production rounds are mixed. These systems have advantages such as low workload and individual feeding of sows, but also disadvantages for the welfare of the sows linked to frequent mixing of sows. 

This project will contribute to improved systems for group housing of pregnant sows with a focus on sow welfare, health and production through automatic monitoring of sows and improved strategies for introducing new sows into dynamic groups. The specific objectives are to: 

• Map and evaluate sow welfare, health and production of dynamic groups
• Develop indicators for sow welfare, health and production based on information from the electronic feeding
• Develop strategies for introducing sows into dynamic groups
• Develop and deliver advisory tools on automatic monitoring of sows based on information from the electronic feeding equipment and on strategies for introducing sows into dynamic groups

Project group:

Anna Wallenbeck (SLU Uppsala and Skara), Maria Rörvang (SLU Alnarp), Axel Sannö (SLU Uppsala and Gård and Djurhälsan) and Rebecka Westin (SLU Skara Gård and Djurhälsan).