Naslov
Influence of Body Length on Sow Postural Changes and Piglet Crushing

Autori
Pavičić, Željko ; Ostović, Mario ; Ekert Kabalin, Anamaria ; Menčik, Sven ; Antunović, Boris ; Špičić, Silvio

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Book of Abstracts / Maltar-Strmečki, N ; Severin, K ; Slavica, A - Zagreb : Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, 2011

ISBN
978-953-6062-81-2

Skup
The International Congress "Veterinary Science and Profession"

Mjesto i datum
Zagreb, Hrvatska, 03.10.2011. - 04.10.2011

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
sow; parity; body length; postural change; piglet death; crushing

Sažetak
Piglet crushing in intensive breeding is closely related to postural changes of sows in confined farrowing crates. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of sow body length on the frequency of postural changes and piglet death caused by crushing. The study was carried out in spring at a pig breeding farm and included 90 Seghers hybrid sows divided into three groups of para I, para III and para V sows (n=30 each). Each sow with the litter was housed under the same commercial housing conditions, with farrowing crate’s restriction for the sow of 1.80x0.56 m, for a mean of 28-day piglet suckling period. The sow body length was determined upon accommodation in the farrowing crate. The frequency of postural changes was monitored on lactation days 1, 10 and 20. The diagnosis of piglet death due to crushing was based on post-mortem analysis. The sow body length increased with parity number (P<0.05). A significant to high negative correlation was found between sow body length and frequency of postural changes on days 1, 10 and 20 (r=-0.67, -0.43 and -0.77, respectively, P<0.05 all), and low positive correlation between sow body length and percentage of piglet crushing (r=0.23, P<0.05). The study results demonstrated a higher percentage of piglet crushing with increasing sow body length in such housing conditions, in spite of the lower frequency of postural changes. It is concluded that sow parity number should be taken into consideration on designing farrowing crates to enhance both sow and piglet well-being.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Veterinarska medicina

POVEZANOST RADA