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Free farrowing pens F
ree farrowing pens are increasingly promoted and implemented. The freedom of the sow to move comes with benefits but also with chal- lenges. While researching pigs at an extensive farm, I was confronted again with the harsh reality of high piglet mortality.
There are two important reasons farrowing crates are used. They reduce piglet mortality by restricting the sow’s movement, and they increase worker safety. Removing the crate will raise these two challenges. However, they are more the end result of other underlying issues. Free farrowing expert Dr Emma Baxter explains that piglet crushing is often the ultimate but not the main cause of death. She emphasises that there is a hypo- thermia-starvation-crushing complex, whereby especially low birth weight pig- lets very quickly get too cold (hypothermia), do not get enough milk in and con- sequently do not have enough energy to avoid being crushed. It is therefore important to improve the vitality of the piglets, as well as to provide a warm and easily accessible area for them, and to incorporate pen features that prevent piglet crushing. Nervous or defensive sows increase the risk of crushing due to their increased movements when startled. Their behaviour is not always easy to work with, as some sows may readily attack. In many cases, sows have mostly negative experi- ences with humans. Calm handling and positive interactions may surprisingly rapidly create a safer working situation. In my own experience, the work with sows is more pleasant and goes much more smoothly when a calm voice is used and a little handful of food given as compensation for any caused stress. There are, however, some sows that remain aggressive towards humans. Genet- ics and past experiences play a role, and for free farrowing it is recommended that sows are selected for their behaviour as well as productivity. Many sows have excellent maternal instincts and are doing their best to be very careful when lying down. The increased body size that sows have been bred for, coupled with poor leg strength, makes some movement challenging. They need support to lie down gradually. Placing a sloping wall in the pen, for example, can help with this, and at the same time it creates a safe area for piglets. When the sow can lie down com- fortably, it is easier for her to nurse the piglets and to provide them with ac- cess to her udder. Doing free farrowing well requires more than just removing the crate. When attention is paid to the farrowing pen size and design, the mater- nal care and calmness of the sows and the vitality of the piglets at birth, then good results can be obtained. Research shows higher growth rates in free farrowing systems and similar mortality levels as in crated systems, but there is large variation between farms. To get the best results, the whole system needs to be consid- ered, including genetics, nutrition and management. The web- site Free Farrowing is an excellent research-based practical website that can be used to learn more about how to start with, or improve, free farrowing management.
34 ▶ PIG PROGRESS | Volume 37, No. 5/6, 2021
Irene Camerlink is an interdisciplinary researcher focusing on pig behaviour, wel- fare and production. She is at- tached to the Polish Academy of Sciences.
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