Comparaison de trois types de cases en maternité : effet sur le déroulement des mises bas, l’allaitement et l’activité des animaux au moment de la libération

Poster présenté aux 56es JRP.

Avec l’apparition ces dernières années de cages ascenseur et de cases liberté, différents systèmes de logement sont désormais proposés aux éleveurs pour les truies en maternité. Il y a néanmoins peu de données concernant l’impact de ces différents systèmes sur les mises bas (MB). Cette étude apporte des premiers éléments sur le déroulement des mises bas, l’allaitement et le comportement des animaux.

Effects of three pens for lactating sows on parturition, lactation and activity at the time of release

Several types of pens are available in farrowing rooms, but there is little information about the impact of these pens on farrowing, suckling, and animal behaviour. In five successive batches, nine sows were divided equally among three types of pens in a farrowing room: a standard pen with permanent crating (B) or pens with temporary crating (from the Monday of the farrowing week until 5 days after farrowing) that had a lift function active either throughout the confinement phase (AL) or not (L). The pens were video recorded. The duration of farrowing and the time taken for piglets no. 1, 5, 9, and 13 to access a teat were recorded. The percentage of piglets in the comfort zone was observed for 24 hours after the end of farrowing. On day 5 (before opening the crates), 6, and 8, the percentage of piglets in the area accessible to the sow (mixed zone) was recorded for 4 hours, as was the sow’s posture and the duration of suckling. The duration of farrowing and the time to access a teat were longer for AL, but did not differ significantly among treatments. It took more time for piglet no. 1 to access a teat than for the other piglets, in particular piglets no.9 (P < 0.05). Access to the comfort zone increased during the 24 hours after birth, but the nest was less attractive than a heating lamp placed near the sow. After the crate was opened, sows spent more time standing, and more piglets were observed in the mixed zone than before (P < 0.01). These preliminary results need to be confirmed by additional observations.