Abstract: Loose until Day before Farrowing Reduced Number of Stillborn

Type and Average of Pigs on the Farm

The farm maintains approximately 1,440 sows, with 43,000 weaners and 15,000 grower-finishers produced annually.

Farming System

Intensive production system.

Description and Evaluation of the Good Practice

In 2023 the farm invested in a new barn with 360 pens for loose lactating sows. To manage crushing risk, sows were initially confined the day before the first sow of each batch was expected to farrow, meaning some sows were confined several days in advance. The farm observed fewer stillborn piglets in sows confined for only one day compared to those confined for longer, and therefore established a new rule: no sow can be confined until the day before her own expected farrowing date. This is managed by numbering each sow on the back in the gestation unit according to her mating day before transfer to the farrowing unit. In the farrowing unit, this number indicates on which day each sow should be confined. Instead of being confined 1–6 days before farrowing, sows are now confined for only one day before and three days after. This good practice reduced stillborn piglets by 0.5 per litter with no additional investment required.

Farm Context

• Sows: The new building has 360 pens organised in sections of 36, with a pen area of 6.8 m² each. Sows enter the farrowing unit 3–6 days before their expected farrowing date and are temporarily confined for one day before and three days after farrowing. Hay is provided as nesting material from the moment sows are placed in the farrowing unit, replenished weekly via a rack at approximately 1–1.5 kg per pen. Sows have snout contact with neighbouring sows.
• Piglets: The covered creep area measures more than 1 m² and is equipped with floor heating and a heat lamp. Rails protect the piglets, and a separate milk and piglet feed trough, inaccessible to the sow, is provided.
• Caretakers: Caretakers enter the sow area when the sow is loose and piglets are processed in front of the sow. Castration is performed with local anaesthesia and pain relief; tooth grinding and tail docking are also performed and iron injection is given using a cradle.

Economic Analysis

As sows are confined before farrowing anyway, implementing this good practice has no or very limited additional cost. The estimated benefit is approximately €55 per sow per year and €48 per extra piglet surviving.

Environmental Analysis

This good practice has no impact on manure management, greenhouse gas emissions, ammonia emissions or water usage.

Replicable Benefits and Relevance for Other EU Countries

This good practice is relevant to all pig producers using temporary confinement pens. It is not yet widespread, as many herds confine sows on a fixed weekday to reduce weekend workloads. The practice is independent of farm scale, easy to implement and requires no additional investment. Benefits are obtained immediately once implemented.