ACTA VETERINARIA ET ZOOTECHNICA SINICA ›› 2016, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (10): 2027-2036.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2016.10.011

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Effect of Different Modes of Farrowing Pens on Reproductive Performance and Stress Level of Sows

ZHANG Xiao-jun 1,WANG Zhan-bin 1,BAO Wei-guang 1,2,GAO Qian-kun 1,WAN Xi-qing 3,GU Xian-hong 1* ,HAO Yue 2,CUI Yan-jun2   

  1. (1.College of Animal Science and Technology,Henan University of Science and Technology,Luoyang 471003,China;2.State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition,Institute of Animal Science,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193,China;3.Beijing Qingquanwan Pig Co.,LTD,Beijing 102104,China)
  • Received:2016-05-04 Online:2016-10-23 Published:2016-10-23

Abstract:

 This experiment was conducted to study the effect of different patterns of farrowing pens on reproductive performance and stress level of sows,in order to explore a kind of welfare and friendly feeding mode of lactating sows that could be popularized and applied in practical production.Twenty-four hybrid sows (Large White × Landrace) which had same parity,similar pregnancy and body condition were randomly assigned to 3 treatments:farrowing crate+high bed group (FCB,n=8),freedom farrowing pen+high bed group (FFPB,n=8) and freedom farrowing pen+partially fermented bed surface group (FFPF,n=8).The 7th day before farrowing,sows were transferred to different patterns farrowing pens.The 21st day after farrowing,piglets were weaned.The results showed that:1) farrowing time in FFPB and FFPF was significantly lower than in FCB (P<0.05);average farrowing interval in FFPB was significantly lower than in FCB (P<0.05);the levels of blood plasma oxytocin (OT) and prolactin (PRL) in FFPB showed an increasing trend (P<0.10).2) The 2nd day after transferation of sows to farrowing pens,waist surface temperature in FFPB and FFPF was significantly lower than in FCB (P<0.05).The 7th day after farrowing,salivary α-amylase (AMY) level in FFPB and FFPF was significantly lower than in FCB (P<0.05).The 14th day after farrowing,salivary AMY level in FFPF was significantly lower than in FCB (P<0.05),and cortisol (COR) level in FCB showed increasing trend (P<0.10).These results indicated that:at the day of farrowing,reproductive hormones levels in freedom farrowing pens were increased while farrowing duration and average farrowing interval were reduced.Within 1 to 2 weeks after farrowing,stress level in freedom farrowing pens was obvious decreased,indicating freedom farrowing pens were more close to the welfare and friendly feeding mode of feeding sows.

 

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