Farrowing environment and the impact on piglet survival and sow-piglet interactions

This project will focus on the impact of physical factors related to the farrowing environment and management around farrowing on sow and piglet behaviour, piglet mortality and growth. Initially, we would like to investigate what are the main differences in management at the time of farrowing and physical factors related to the farrowing pen between low versus high-mortality herds in Norway and Cambridge. This will add to the recent results in this area, and hopefully give a list of factors and routines t hat can substantially improve piglet survival. In addition to management, we will particularly focus on the quality of the creep area to increase the piglets` use of this area at a time when the risk of being fatally crushed by the sow is high. Temperatur e, heat source, type of flooring and the size of this area will be studied systematically through experimental work, with the aim of finding the optimal characteristics of the creep area and thereby reduce the incidence of crushing and increase the functi onality of the farrowing pen for loose-housed sows. Finally, based on a literature review and the results of the present study, we will develop a more optimal farrowing pen for individually loose-housed sows that at least fulfil three biological criterias : -The sow has enough freedom to move around and perform nest building behaviour in the most restless phase before parturition. This increases maternal motivation, and reduces the risk of maternal crushing of piglets shortly after birth -The sow should be able to urinate/defecate outside the resting area. This imply that when the sow enter the dunging area with slatted floor, it has to be arranged in such a way that the sow can stand with her front legs in the dunging area and still avoid defecating or urinating on the solid floor in the lying area. -The creep area should be located in such a way, and this area should be so attractive, that it stimulates the piglets to quickly start using it after birth