REVIEWS: Compilation of the Scientific Literature Comparing Housing Systems for Gestating Sows and Gilts Using Measures of Physiology,Behavior, Performance,and Health

The objective of this review was two-fold. First, a series of meta-analyses (analyses of treatment effects across studies) were performed on available data from scientific literature to determine whether sow behavior, performance, or physiology differed for sows in group pens or individual stalls. Second, research publications in areas of performance and health, physiology, and behavior of pregnant gilts and sows in studies that directly compared gestation sow housing systems were summarized. Common systems were stalls, tethers, and various types of group housing systems. Results of meta-analyses showed that the average levels of productivity, oral-nasal-facial behaviors (ONF), and blood cortisol were statistically similar for sows in group pens and stalls. For the review, in some studies, circulating cortisol concentrations were greater among gestating females kept in tethers compared with other systems; however, overall cortisol was not altered by housing system. Immune parameters were largely not influenced by housing system. Housing system did not alter heart rate. Gestation housing system may influence sow behavior including stereotypic ONF, postural locomotory, feeding behaviors, or social behaviors. Overall, total ONF behaviors were comparable between gestation sow housing systems. However, tethered and stalled sows exhibited more stereotypic ONF compared with sows in group or outdoor systems. Compared with group housing, individually confining sows during gestation resulted in postural and movement restrictions. Stall size and design can impact postural adjustments and inter-stall aggression of individually housed sows. Inconsistent performance and health results were found among sow housing studies. Sows in stalls consistently had equal or greater reproductive performance compared with sows in other systems. Farrowing rate for sows in individual stalls was equal to or superior to sows in other systems. Farrowing rate was clearly superior among sows in stalls compared with group systems, where dynamic social groups were employed. However, tethered sows may have reduced litter size and increased piglet birth weight. Sows in group housing systems, particularly electronic sow feeder (ESF) systems, had injury scores greater than sows in either stalls or tethers. Gestation housing system (individual vs group) may impact sow welfare in the farrowing area (using stalls or pens). In conclusion, although individual studies found significant housing system effects, subjected to the overall evidence from adequately designed studies meta-analyses revealed that gestation stalls (non-tethered) or well-managed pens generally (but not in all cases) produced similar states of welfare for pregnant gilts or sows in terms of physiology, behavior, performance, and health.     

Factors influencing farmers' responses to welfare legislation: A case study of gestation sow housing in Flanders (Belgium)

In the light of the EU ban on individual confinement of gestating sows which will have to be fully implemented by 2013, a survey was conducted among a representative sample of Flemish pig producers. The questionnaire was sent by post to 250 farmers in 2003 and 352 farmers in 2005 of which 219 and 296, respectively, provided valid responses via telephone. The percentage of respondents housing (some of) their sows in group was 10.5% in 2003 and 16.2% in 2005. These farmers were more likely to have a successor than farmers housing their sows individually. The most common group housing systems were free access stalls (24%) followed by electronic feeding stations (21%), ad libitum feeding (20%), feeding stalls/troughs (18%), and drop/trickle feeding systems (13%). Interval (4%) and electronic feed dispensers (0%) were very rare in Flanders. The main criteria for having chosen a particular group housing system related to sow health and welfare, investment costs and amount of labour. The relative importance of economic reasons has increased over time. Users were generally rather satisfied with their group housing system. Farmers using group housing for all their sows were more satisfied than farmers using both group and individual housing. Users of ad libitum feeding systems (and feeding stalls/troughs) were more satisfied than users of electronic feeding stations. A minority of respondents was planning to change to group housing within two years time (4.1% in 2003 and 7.4% in 2005). These tended to be young farmers with a large sow herd and 58% reported to opt for free access stalls. The main reason why the remaining respondents were not planning to change to group housing yet is that they will stop farming activities before 2013. This reason was particularly important for older small-scale farmers without a successor. In contrast, the lack of financial resources and security was particularly important for young farmers of a large sow herd with a likely successor. An increasing group of farmers (often without a successor) reported to delay changing to group housing because they consider individual housing more profitable. These results show that, in Flanders, the conversion to group housing is taking place slowly, that the reasons for not converting yet vary according to the farmers' age, the likelihood of a successor and herd size, and that there are differences between operational group housing systems concerning herd size, age of the system, sow management and user satisfaction.     

Survey among Belgian pig producers about the introduction of group housing systems for gestating sows

There is a global move from individual to group housing of gestating sows. In the European Union, individual gestating stalls will be banned by 2013. Just like in other industrialized regions, these stalls have been the standard housing system for intensively kept sows from the 1960s onward in the Flemish region of Belgium. Because the socioeconomic consequences for the pig industry may be far-reaching and because farmer attitude may influence the realization of the hoped-for improvement in animal welfare in practice, we conducted a survey from 2003 until 2009 among representative samples of Flemish pig producers every 2 yr. The share of farms with group housing increased from 10.5% in 2003 to 29.8% in 2007, but then dropped to 24.6% in 2009. It appears that after 2005 users of old group housing systems in particular stopped farming. Because sow herd size increased more on farms with vs. without group housing and because the proportion of the herd that was group-housed also tended to increase between 2003 to 2009, the change to group housing took place faster when expressed at the level of the sow (from 9.1% in 2003 to 34.1% in 2009) instead of farm. The percentage of farmers planning to convert to group housing within 2 yr was 4.1% in 2003, and 6 to 7% thereafter. These were typically young farmers (P = 0.006) with a large sow herd (P < 0.001) and with a likely successor (P = 0.03). Free access stalls were the most common group housing system (31% of farms, 37% of sows). Their popularity is expected to increase further at the expense of electronic feeding stations, ad libitum feeding, and stalls/troughs with manual feed delivery. User satisfaction was generally high but depended on whether or not all gestating sows were kept in group (P < 0.001), the provisioning of environmental enrichment (P = 0.057), and the age (P = 0.012) and type (P = 0.016) of system. The main criteria for choosing a certain group housing system were the investment costs and sow health and welfare. The importance of economic reasons (P = 0.007) and type of labor (P = 0.043) decreased with the age of the system. In 2003 and 2005 the main reason for not having converted to group housing was that farmers would stop keeping sows by 2013. In 2007 and 2009 the reasons mainly concerned uncertainty about the future and maximally delaying the conversion. Belgium is one of the European Union countries where the pig industry is expected to undergo drastic changes during the few years remaining before the ban on individual housing.     

基于福利的新型多元化猪生产系统

作者介绍了基于福利的新型多元化猪生产系统的相关技术,分析了多元化生产系统对猪的健康、福利和生产的影响,认为对于生产者而言,究竟选择哪一种生产方式,要考虑多方面的因素而定。虽然新型生产系统仍有许多技术层面的问题需要进一步深入研究,但遵循一定的福利评价体系进行生猪生产将会是未来发展的方向。     

The role of behavioral science in animal welfare, in teaching and practical application: behavior of swine

The regulation for the keeping of pigs from 1988 acknowledges in principle only results of research, induced by long term problems in pig husbandry. Therefore it is only relevant for problems, that became apparent at least ten years earlier. Group housing for sows is not taken into consideration in the regulation. However, in the near future veterinarians will be expected to produce an opinion about the welfare of sows kept in group housing systems. In the houses for pregnant sows and in the ones for farrowing sows and for sows with piglets, problems can be expected resulting from group housing. Practice is not always according the nice theory, telling us, that sows want a place on their own for farrowing. Thus it can be difficult to end up with one sow in one farrowing nest. If piglets leave the farrowing nest to early, they will not be able to recognize their own sow amidst the group of others. This results in "multisuckling", with its large number of runts. However, group housing expects every piglet to stay with its own sow. In considering the welfare of sows kept in group housing systems a veterinarian will have to ask himself again and again, whether the sows are able to cope with the presented situation. The same counts for the piglets.     

用生物经济模型对我国不同类型猪场的模拟研究——模型的构建和初步结果

根据我国当前养猪生产繁育体系,将我国集约化养猪生产概括为5类典型猪场,并利用农场模型的方法,构建了不同类型猪场的生物经济模型,并考虑了模型的生物学效率。模拟的600头母猪的商品猪场、猪苗场、杂种扩繁场、杜洛克育种场和长白（或大约克）育种场每年总利润分别为56.01、12.99、100.53、134.09和164.10万元,净能利用效率分别为27.69、32.98、28.25、28.32和28.48 MJ/kg。模型还输出了不同类型猪场的成本结构、收入组成和生产综合指标。对模型的敏感度分析表明,模型对不同市场形势、生产水平和管理措施变化的反应是灵敏的。     

黑龙江省猪完整繁育体系猪群结构优化的研究

本文以黑龙江省猪品种资源构成、养猪生产具体条件及过去杂交试验等为基础，拟定了二元、回交和三元杂交方案．在系统分析的基础上，运用线性规划模型优化了不同杂交方案下不同品种组合的猪完整繁育体系内猪群结构．得出，不同杂交方案下猪完整繁育体系各阶层母猪群的最优数量结构呈金字塔形．     

N-氨甲酰谷氨酸在养猪生产中的应用

N-氨甲酰谷氨酸(N-carbamylglutamate,NCG)是一种新型的猪用饲料添加剂,在饲料中按一定比例添加可显著提高猪的繁殖性能和生产性能。N-氨甲酰谷氨酸(NCG)主要通过促进精氨酸的内源合成,提高母猪窝产仔数和初生重,增强公猪的繁殖力,促进仔猪的生长和发育。作者将NCG在养猪生产中的应用进行了综述,以期为提高养猪生产效率提供参考依据。     

Comparison of injuries in sows housed in gestation stalls versus group pens with electronic sow feeders

OBJECTIVE: To compare the location and severity of injuries in pregnant sows housed in individual gestation stalls with that in pregnant sows housed in dynamic groups in pens with electronic sow feeders. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 100 pregnant sows of parity 1 to 3 and various body weights. PROCEDURE: Fifty sows each were randomly allotted to gestation stalls or group pens with electronic sow feeders. Injuries were scored on the basis of location, number, and depth of wounds. Injury scores for sows in both housing systems were compared during a period of 90 days. The influence of factors such as duration of stay in the housing system, parity, and body weight on sow injuries was also examined. RESULTS: Injury scores were higher in group pens with electronic sow feeders. As body weight increased, injury scores decreased for sows housed in group pens with electronic sow feeders and increased for sows housed in gestation stalls. There was a significant negative association between second parity and total injury scores. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Modifications in housing system design and management procedures are needed to reduce injuries in pregnant sows.     

合作猪生长曲线分析和拟合研究

对在异地舍饲的高原型小型猪种——合作猪的生长发育规律进行了研究,并利用Logistic、Gompertz和R ichards三种曲线拟合了其生长模型。研究结果表明,三种模型中,Gompertz模型拟合效果最理想(R2=0.999 5);公、母猪在150日龄前生长基本一致,但150日龄后母猪明显快于公猪;公、母猪的生长拐点分别为118.32、146.75日龄,母猪的成年体重明显快于公猪,但达到生长拐点的日龄比公猪迟。     

南平地区部分规模化种猪场母猪子宫内膜炎调查

通过对福建省南平市6个规模化种猪场母猪子宫内膜炎的调查研究发现,母猪子宫内膜炎的发病率较高,平均高达23.6%,对生产的影响较大。发病率与不同的胎次、季节有明显的关系,同时与不同猪场的饲养生产管理水平有较大关系。饲养生产管理水平高,发病率相对低些,反之则发病率稍高,存在较大的差异。     

益生素应用于规模化养猪业的效果

本文综述了益生素在规模化养猪业中的应用效果，阐明了益生素的作 理及其影响因素，通过分析着重强调益生素添加到猪日粮中，可 减少仔猪腹泻、降低仔猪死亡率、提高母猪繁殖力、提高饲料报酬等，说明益生素是一种具有良好市场前景的饲料添加剂。     

集约化养猪场哺乳仔猪腹泻的原因及其控制

通过对集约化养猪场仔猪腹泻原因，症状表现的分析，提出规模化养殖场在仔猪培育方面应注意避免仔猪的环境应激，病源菌的感染和母猪料的不合理更换，从而提出防止哺乳母猪患病，仔猪饮水不足和仔猪料配制使用不合理等问题，强调加强母猪饲养，提高仔猪抗病力，合理使用乳猪料是防止仔猪腹泻的关键，并提出了治疗仔猪腹泻的措施。     

群养猪的争斗行为与福利问题

争斗行为是在养猪生产中常见的行为问题之一，在不同猪群中都有发生。争斗行为存在着个体差异，在不同生产环境下表现的强度和频度也不一样。过度的争斗会给动物造成应激，使动物的福利恶化，同时造成生产损失。因此，在对群养动物进行福利评价时，应该把争斗行为作为福利评价的重要指标之一。     

Impact of dominance effects on sow longevity

The purpose of the current study was to estimate variance components, especially dominance genetic variation, for overall leg action, length of productive life and sow stayability until third and fifth parity in the Finnish pig populations. The variance components were estimated in two purebred [Landrace (LR), n = 23 602 and Large White (LW), n =22 984] and crossbred (LR × LW, n = 17 440) data sets. Five different analyses were carried out for all the traits to compare the effect of sows’ inbreeding, common litter environment and parental dominance in the statistical model when determining the genetic correlations of the traits for the two purebred and crossbred populations. Estimated heritabilities for the traits ranged from 0.04 to 0.06. The estimates for the proportion of dominance variance of phenotypic variance (d²) varied between 0.01 and 0.17, and was highest in the crossbred dataset. The genetic correlations of the same traits in purebred and crossbred were all high (>0.75). Based on current results, the effect of dominance should be accounted for in the breeding value estimation of sow longevity, especially when data from crossbred animals are included in the analyses. Because dominance genetic variation for sow longevity exists that variation should be utilized through planned matings in producing sows for commercial production.     

猪妊娠过程中胎盘发育及其调控基因研究进展

胎盘是母体与胎儿进行营养物质、气体及废弃物交换的重要器官。妊娠过程中,猪胎盘功能是影响母猪产仔数、死胎数及断奶前死亡率的最重要因素之一。作者介绍了猪妊娠早期胎盘的建立过程及形态变化、妊娠中期胎盘褶皱的形成、妊娠后期胎盘的进一步发育,阐述了这3个妊娠阶段猪胎盘的形态变化与其对应的胎盘功能之间的关系,并介绍了目前所发现的调控猪胎盘建立和发育的相关基因,包括透明质酸酶（HYAL）、组织蛋白酶（CTSB和CTSL1）及乙酰肝素酶（HPSE）基因,为提高母猪胎盘效率、增加母猪繁殖力提供科学依据。     

有机微量元素在猪营养中的应用

本文主要综述了有机微量元素在母猪、仔猪、育肥猪中的应用研究。     

The association between sow and piglet behavior

Sows in modern pig industry are often housed individually in farrowing crates a few days before farrowing until weaning. These farrowing crates limit movements of the sow and therefore also limit them in expressing their behavior. These limitations may lead to distress with the sow and can result in stereotypical behaviors. Because it is possible that the general behavior of the mother sow also influences her piglets, the hypothesis of the present study was that there is an association between the general behavior of sows and the behavior of their piglets. Our results showed that there was indeed an association between the postures and activities of sows and the behavior of their piglets, not only for nursing–suckling behavior. Results also indicated that piglets prefer resting when sows are resting. When sows were standing up, piglets were running around more. Although there were indications that piglets were more at ease when sows were bar biting compared with when they were sham chewing, a specific relationship between sow stereotypical behavior and piglet behavior could not be demonstrated in the present study. Though, it should be taken in mind that relatively low frequencies of stereotypical behaviors were observed. Furthermore, it could be that not only the prevalence of a specific stereotypical behavior is important but also a specific threshold of that specific behavior should be exceeded to induce effects on the suckling piglets. Alternatively piglets could coinduce stereotypical behavior of the mother sow.     

规模化猪场数据收集检查与种猪管理

规模化猪场采用电脑软件记录猪场的生产数据,并对所收集的数据进行及时检查.使用电脑软件管理的种猪场可以使每头母猪提供的上市猪头数和母猪生产成绩迅速提高,调查表明,2007年的配种分娩率达到78.55%,比2006年提高了11.61%:胎间距154.3 d,比2006年缩短了23.75 d;断奶健康活仔数达到23.20头,比2006年多3.77头.     

Investigation on the Production Performance of gE Antibody Positive Sows in Pig Farms Infected with Wild Type Pseudorabies Virus

Pseudorabies (PR) is caused by the Pseudorabies virus (PRV). It is an acute and hot highly contagious disease infecting livestock and a wide range of wild animals. In order to investigate the relationship between latent infection of Pseudorabies virus and sow production performance,this study collected production parameters of first-parity sows with wild virus gE positive and negtive in a Pseudorabies positive stable intensive farm, including total litter size, healthy litter size, weak litter size, stillbirths, mummified fetus, litter weight, number of weaning live, number of weaning qualified and weaning weight. And compared the production performance of PRV gE antibody negative and positive sows in the same intensive pig farm. The study showed that each PRV gE antibody negative sow could produce 11.96 live piglets per parity. Additionally, PRV gE antibody negative sow could provide more alive, weaning and weaning qualified piglets per parity than infection sows, which were 0.63, 0.18 and 0.28, respectively. Although the average birth weight and average weaning weight of piglets produced by PRV gE antibody positive sows were higher than those produced by negative sows, the weaning qualified rate of antibody negative sows was higher than that of antibody positive sows, indicating that the weaning live piglets produced by antibody negative sows had higher uniformity. In summary, the production performance of PRV gE antibody positive sows was lower than that of the negative sows. Eradication of PR can bring higher profit to the pig farm. Pig farm should actively eradicate the PR.