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The effect of feeding a high fibre diet on the welfare of sows housed in large dynamic groups

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

CL Stewart ,
LA Boyle ,
MEE McCann  and
NE O’Connell
CL Stewart*
Affiliation:
Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute Hillsborough, Large Park, Hillsborough, Co Down BT26 6DR, UK
LA Boyle
Affiliation:
Pig Research and Development Department, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co Cork, Ireland
MEE McCann
Affiliation:
Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute Hillsborough, Large Park, Hillsborough, Co Down BT26 6DR, UK
NE O’Connell
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
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Abstract

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This study assessed the effect of increasing fibre levels in the concentrate ration on the welfare of sows housed in a large dynamic group. One hundred and twelve Large White * Landrace sows were allocated to one of two treatments over six replicates. Treatments were as follows: (i) High Fibre diet (~15% CF [Crude Fibre]), and (ii) Control diet (~5% CF). Treatments were applied to two separate dynamic groups each containing 33 (±3) sows in a cross-over design, after three replicates the treatments were switched between the groups. Approximately nine sows were replaced in each of these groups at 3-week intervals (each replacement constituting a replicate of the study). Sows on the high fibre diet spent a greater percentage of time lying (High Fibre: 43.8, Control: 28.0, SEM 3.25%), while sows on the control diet spent more time sham chewing (High Fibre: 7.2, Control: 28.8, SEM 1.55%). Sows newly introduced to the group on the high fibre treatment spent proportionally more time in the kennel areas compared to newly introduced sows in the control treatment (High Fibre: 0.893, Control: 0.788, SEM 5.10). In general, aggression occurred at a very low frequency and overall levels did not differ between treatments (High Fibre: 0.005, Control: 0.003, SEM 0.0007 [occurrences per min]). However, sows in the control treatment performed head thrusting (High Fibre: 0.02, Control: 0.00, SEM 0.001 [occurrences per min]), and biting behaviour (High Fibre: 0.02, Control: 0.01, SEM 0.002 [occurrences per min]) more frequently than sows on the high fibre diet. There was no effect of treatment on physiological parameters such as plasma cortisol (High Fibre: 1.34, Control: 1.44, SEM 0.114 ng ml−1) or haptoglobin levels (High Fibre: 0.73, Control: 0.64, SEM 0.080 mg ml−1). In summary, provision of a high fibre diet had a positive effect on the welfare of group-housed dry sows. Sows on the high fibre treatment spent more time resting in the kennel areas, less time performing stereotypic behaviours and showed a reduction in some aggressive behaviours relative to sows fed the control diet.

Keywords

animal welfarebehaviourdynamic grouphigh fibre dietsphysiological measuressows
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 19 , Issue 3 , August 2010 , pp. 349 - 357
Copyright
© 2010 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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