Space allowance for dry, pregnant sows in pens: body condition, skin lesions, and performance.

@article{SalakJohnson2007SpaceAF,
  title={Space allowance for dry, pregnant sows in pens: body condition, skin lesions, and performance.},
  author={Janeen L. Salak-Johnson and Sherrie Niekamp and Sandra L. Rodriguez-Zas and Michael Ellis and Stanley E. Curtis},
  journal={Journal of animal science},
  year={2007},
  volume={85 7},
  pages={
          1758-69
        }
}
Different floor space allowances for dry, pregnant sows in pens were evaluated to determine the impacts of space on sow performance, productivity, and body lesions during 2 consecutive farrowings. Treatment groups of 5 sows/pen were assigned to 1.4, 2.3, or 3.3 m(2) of floor space/sow or of 5 sows in individual stalls (1.34 m(2)). The experiment consisted of 6 replications (blocks 1 to 6), and within each block measurements were recorded for 2 consecutive pregnancies and farrowings. A total of… 
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Highly Influential Citations
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Space allowance for gestating sows in pens: behavior and immunity.
TLDR
It is apparent that neither floor space nor stall environment provided adequate or quality of space to improve sow well-being, however, the differential behavioral and physiological mechanisms initiated by sows in response to their specific environment the sows were able to evoke the appropriate response(s) needed to adequately adapt to their environment.
Effects of group size and floor space allowance on grouped sows: aggression, stress, skin injuries, and reproductive performance.
TLDR
Based on the aggression and cortisol results, it is credible to judge that, within the range of floor space allowances studied, sow welfare improves with increased space, but from a sow welfare perspective, the experiment had insufficient precision to determine what is an adequate space allowance for sows.
Minimal floor space allowance for gestating sows kept in pens with electronic sow feeders on fully slatted floors.
TLDR
The results suggest that the minimal floor space allowance of 1.5 m2 appears to be acceptable for maintaining reproductive performance and welfare of gestating sows group-housed under conditions of the current study.
Group space allowance has little effect on sow health, productivity, or welfare in a free-access stall system.
TLDR
Although the group space allowance had no measurable impact on the health, physiology, or productivity of the sows, the lower group space use and social contact of the SS sows reduced the behavioral diversity benefits of group housing and may indicate an avoidance of social stressors or a lack of physical comfort in the smallest pens.
Effect of day of mixing gestating sows on measures of reproductive performance and animal welfare.
TLDR
STL can improve most measures of welfare compared to mixing in groups, however, when mixing sows, assessments for reproductive performance and welfare may change from gestation to farrowing, and special attention should be focused on the long-term reproductive and welfare consequences.
Comparing gestating sows housing between electronic sow feeding system and a conventional stall over three consecutive parities
The effect of the body condition of late pregnant sows on fat reserves at farrowing and weaning and on litter performance
TLDR
The effect of the body condition of late pregnant sows on fat reserves at farrowing and weaning, including the scale of the relevant changes in that period, and on the reproductive performance of sows and the results of piglet rearing were determined.
Performance and well-being of sows housed in pens retrofitted from gestation stalls.
TLDR
The performance and well-being of sows were compromised in pens, as indicated by decreased farrowing rates and increased sow removal rates, and the limited floor space allowance and the competitive floor feeding system could be major contributors to the compromised performance.
Effects of group housing on reproductive performance, lameness, injuries and saliva cortisol in gestating sows.
Space allowance and high fiber diet impact performance and behavior of group-kept gestating sows.
TLDR
Results indicate that keeping small groups of pregnant sows at a minimum floor-space allowance of 1.7 m(2)/sow and floor feeding these sows a high-fiber diet can improve short-term sow well-being.
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