Group housing produces heavier pigs

Group-housed sows produce heavier pigs, according to new research.

Reproductive data from 40,000 TOPIGS sows on 49 Dutch farms found group-housed sows produced piglets with an average birthweight 61g higher than those of individually housed sows.

The group housing system allows sows to interact socially and perform behavioural patterns that might benefit their welfare, decrease stress levels and consequently influence birthweight, according to researchers.

Another possible expansion for increased birthweight is that group housed sows exercise more than individually housed sows. Researchers found sows who exercised more during gestation had higher birthweights than those who exercised little. They believe this could be related to blood circulation of the uterus.

A third expansion might be that group-housed sows lose less body energy through radiation iin cold season as they can huddle together.