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Piglet use of the creep area and piglet mortality – effects of closing the piglets inside the creep area during sow feeding time in pens for individually loose-housed sows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

S. Berg ,
I. L. Andersen ,
G. M. Tajet ,
I. A. Haukvik ,
S. Kongsrud  and
K. E. Bøe
S. Berg*
Affiliation:
Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, PO Box 5003, N-1432Ås, Norway
I. L. Andersen
Affiliation:
Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, PO Box 5003, N-1432Ås, Norway
G. M. Tajet
Affiliation:
Norsvin, PO Box 504, N-2304, Hamar, Norway
I. A. Haukvik
Affiliation:
Norwegian Pig Health Service, Gilde Fellesslakterier BA, Norway
S. Kongsrud
Affiliation:
Norsvin, PO Box 504, N-2304, Hamar, Norway
K. E. Bøe
Affiliation:
Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, PO Box 5003, N-1432Ås, Norway
*
†E-mail: synne.berg@umb.no
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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of closing the piglets inside the piglet creep area during the first two or four sow feedings on piglet mortality from birth until weaning and piglet use of the creep area within the first 3 days after farrowing. A total of 96 sows in individual loose-housing farrowing pens were randomly allotted to one out of three groups: C0 – control (piglets not closed inside the creep area during feeding), C2 – piglets closed inside the creep area during the first two sow feedings after farrowing, C4 – piglets closed inside the creep area during the first four sow feedings after farrowing. Production results were registered on all sows, and the behaviour of 33 of the sows and litters were recorded, using instantaneous sampling every 10 min for 6 h during day 1, 2 and 3 after farrowing (farrowing=day 0). There were no effects of closing the piglets inside the creep area during sow feeding on piglet mortality, piglet activity or location. However, to make this conclusion reliable, this should be tested for several herds and with different types of creep areas. The piglets were lying increasingly more in the creep area from day 1 to day 3 (P<0·001), and at the same time mean proportion of the litter observed lying in close proximity of the mother decreased (P<0·001). How much the piglets used the creep area differed strongly between sows (P<0·05).

Keywords

animal husbandrycreep feedingmortalitypigletssows
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 82 , Issue 2 , April 2006 , pp. 277 - 281
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2006

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