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Loose sow housing presents challenges

Lisbeth Hansen, Danish Pig Research Center_webWith more and more food companies calling for a phase-out of sow gestation stalls, many pork producers will have to make the transition to loose sow housing – also known as group or open pen housing.

Pig farmers in Denmark began transitioning to loose sow housing in 2013 and Danish researcher Lisbeth Hansen says there have been some challenges.  She says, while the welfare of the sow is improved, the opposite is true for baby pigs.

“Our research shows us that we need to use a stall around the time of farrowing, otherwise we see too many piglets crushed,” Hansen said. “We have to take that into account when we run the farrowing pen.”

She says the safety of the farmer is also a challenge in open housing.

“If you’re not careful when you’re in the pen, she can actually attack you because she wants to protect the piglets,” said the Danish researcher. “So the staff has to be very much aware of suddenly having a loose sow and she has that very protective behavior in that pen.”

In Denmark, all farms will be required to move entirely to a loose housing system by 2020. Hansen spoke at the recent Ohio Pork Congress.

Audio: Lisbeth Hansen, Danish Pig Research Centre

 

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