A Pilot Study: Behavior and Productivity of Gestating Sows in Width-Adjustable Stall

The housing of dry sows in individual gestation stall is a critical welfare concern facing the swine industry. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a width adjustable stall (FLEX) on sow behavior and productivity. After pregnancy was confirmed, sows were allotted to FLEX stall (n=8) or standard gestation STALL (n=8) for 1 gestation period over 4 blocks. Throughout gestation, FLEX stall width was adjusted to achieve 2.5cm space between sow and stall when lying in full lateral recumbence without simultaneously touching sides of stall. Behavior was recorded for 24-h periods before, during, and after width adjustments were made. Frequency of skin lesions were recorded on d 25±5, 45±5, and 112±5 of gestation. Sows housed in STALL performed more oral-nasal-facial (ONF) and sham-chew behaviors compared to sows in FLEX (p<0.0001). Sows in FLEX sat more than sows in STALL (p<0.05). Sows in STALL tended (p<0.10) to drink more than sows in FLEX. Sows in FLEX had more lesions on the right side of the body than sows in STALL (p<0.05), but as gestation progressed, number of lesions decreased. Sows in FLEX had more piglets born (p<0.01) and born alive (p<0.10) than sows in STALL. Overall, sows in FLEX stall spent less time performing ONF and sham-chew behaviors, but more time laying and improved productivity. Thus, it may be plausible to improve sow well-being in terms of behavior, performance, and productivity by increasing the width of the individual gestation stall, especially for larger bodied sows.