Effects of grouping piglets during lactation period on suckling behavior, performance, and skin damage scores
1998
Watcharapong Wattanakul | Jathuporn Boonpoon | Virut Boonsarn | Arunya Prasawang | Intr Sala-Ngam (Ubon Ratchathani Univ., Ubon Ratchathani (Thailand). Faculty of Agriculture)
Effects of grouping piglets during lactation period on sucking behavior, performance and skin damage score were investigated. Sixteen sows and litters were arranged into two treatments (control and grouping) and four replicates with two sows and litters in each group, using randomized complete block design. Control sows and litters remained in farrowing pen with crates until weaning at 28 days. In the grouping treatment, two litters were allowed to group freely in the farrowing pens on day 21 to 28 by removing the partitions between two adjacent pens. After weaning, two litters in each treatment were grouped and monitored in a nursery unit for three weeks. Daily weight gain of the grouping treatment, after piglets were grouped, was not significantly different from that of the control treatment. Duration and interval of successful suckling between the two treatments were not significantly different on the day of grouping. After weaning, the performance of the two treatments were also similar. However, skin damage scores which reflect the welfare of the piglets, was significantly lower in the grouping treatment than in the control treatment, especially at one week after weaning. Hence, grouping piglets during lactation period could improve the welfare of piglets but did not affect the performance of the piglets.
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