Dynamic Sow? Improved animal welfare and production in systems with dynamic sow groups and electronic sow feeders (ESFs) through automatic surveillance and strategies for introduction of sows

Group housing systems for pregnant sows are under development, driven by transition from individual stalls to group housing in the EU.

Group housing has animal welfare benefits over stall systems, with free movement for the sows and more possibilities for sows to express important species-specific behaviours. However, group-housing of pregnant sows also involves animal welfare and production concerns.

There is a trend for sow group housing systems with electronic sow feeders and dynamic sow groups, where sows from different farrowing batches are repeatedly mixed during pregnancy.These systems have with advantages such as low workload and individual feeding of sows, but also disadvantages relating to establishment of sow group dynamics, with unfavourable effects on sow welfare.

The proposed project will improve innovative group housing systems for pregnant sows to promote sow welfare, health and production. This will include automatic surveillance and improved strategies for introduction of new sows into dynamic sow groups.

Specific objectives are to:Map and evaluate animal welfare, health and production in dynamic sow group housing systemsDevelop indicators of sow welfare, health and production based on ESF dataDevelop commercially feasible strategies for introducing new individuals into dynamic sow groupsDevelop and deliver advisory tools on ESF-based automatic surveillance of sows in dynamic groups and on strategies for introducing new sows to dynamic groups.