Is it necessary to give fibrous diets to group-housed sows ?

The effects of a fibrous diet ( F : 32% neutral detergent fibre, NDF) and a control diet ( T : 20% NDF) on the well-being of pregnant sows housed under different systems were studied over four cycles of reproduction. The herd was divided into 7 groups of 24 animals. In each group half the sows received the F diet and the other half received the T diet. Three housing systems were used :• individual stall (B) : 3 groups of 24 sows• group of six sows simultaneously fed at six troughs (G6) : 2 groups of 24 sows• group of twelve sows with an electronic sow feeder (DAC) : 2 groups of 24 sows.Measurements concerning behaviour (post-feeding activity, 24h-activity, duration of farrowing), physiology (glucocorticoïds, cathecolamines) and animal performance were collected throughout the experiment.Diet had little effect on the parameters measured. However, we did observe a trend for less stereotypic activity in gestation (P