On this website, you will find a variety of information and resources for pig farmers, veterinarians and other interested parties who want to know more about any aspect of free farrowing and lactation systems.

Alternatives to the conventional farrowing crates for indoor keeping can be divided into two principally different pen types. Systems with partly solid floor that allows the sow to divide the pen area into functional zones, and for provision of nest materials enabling sows to carry out nestbuilding behaviour in a more natural way. The other system is pens with fully slatted floor, where sows are unable to divide the pen into functional zones, and where allocation of nest materials as straw is difficult due to the risk of clotting the slats and the slurry system. Within these two different pen systems either zero confinement or temporary confinement can be practiced. Zero confinement can also be achieved by keeping sows outdoor in a larger fenced paddock with voluntary access to a farrowing hut positioned in the paddock. This document describes alternatives to the permanent confinement system and the likely outcome of the alternative systems on animal welfare including piglet mortality. Further, an overview is given on national legislation and voluntary label schemes in various EU countries where permanent confinement is banned.

The review describes the species-specific biology of pigs during nest building, farrowing and lactation. The text highlights important behavioural and physiological needs of both sow and piglets that need to be considered to facilitate welfare of sow and piglets. Five important key areas challenging welfare of sows and/or piglets are highlighted, and threats for welfare are described based on scientific knowledge with links to literature for further reading. The five key areas are: space and freedom to move, comfortable climate, nest building and exploration, litter size and competition, and mutilations. For each of these key areas, animal- and/or resource-based indicators are described, helping to identify welfare issues. These indicators can be used to facilitate welfare inspections on farms. Later, the legislation within each key area is described, and practises that can improve the welfare on farms within each key area are suggested, also with links to scientific references for further reading.

What are strategies to eliminate or at least minimize the times of severe restriction of sow movements? And lactation strategies of hyperprolific sows?

This review gives an overview of the motivation behind nest building behaviour and its behavioural elements. The review also describes how lack of ability to nest build influences maternal behaviour and sow and piglet welfare. Finally, it describes which materials can be provided for nest building when sows are kept confined in crates or zero confinement systems.

EURCAW-Pigs received the following questions from a veterinary inspector at a government of one of the Member States: • What are the optimal space dimensions in a loose farrowing pen to reduce overlaying of piglets by the sow? • Based on current thinking is there a minimum free farrowing pen size whereby overlaying of piglets is minimised?

Pregnant sows are generally fed at a restricted level to avoid overweight/high body condition score and the risk of problems at farrowing. However, restrictive feeding has welfare implications as it may lead to hunger, stereotypic behaviour and increased aggression. This review looks at the causes of and ways to reduce these risks to animal welfare.

Infrared temperature measurement equipment (IRTME) is gaining popularity as a diagnostic tool for evaluating human and animal health. It has the prospect of reducing subject stress and disease spread by being implemented as an automatic surveillance system and by a quick assessment of skin temperatures without need for restraint or contact. This review evaluates studies and applications where IRTME has been used on pigs. These include investigations of relationships between skin, ambient and body temperatures and applications for detecting fever, inflammation, lesions, ovulation, and stress as well as for meat quality assessment. The best skin locations for high correlation between skin temperature and rectal temperature are most likely thermal windows such as ear base, eye region and udder. However, this may change with age, stressors, and biological state changes, for example, farrowing. The studies performed on pigs using IRTME have presented somewhat discrepant results, which could be caused by inadequate equipment, varying knowledge about reliable equipment operation, and site-specific factors not included in the assessment. Future focus areas in the field of IRTME are suggested for further development of new application areas and increased diagnostic value in the porcine and animal setting in general.

Question to EURCAW-Pigs: Nest building materials for sows.

The current conditions in which weaned pigs are kept are the most important in relation to the development of tail biting behaviour. Evidence for associations between management and housing during suckling and tail biting behaviour is scarce and contradictory. This knowledge section gives a short overview of the current knowledge on potential early life risk factors and their impact on tail biting behaviour in later life. However, further research is needed to finally evaluate the impact of the early life environment on the expression of tail biting in later life.

This guide aims to give practical advice to pig farmers surrounding the complex issue of providing suitable environmental enrichment to pigs. It provides useful information from the knowledge of farmers, researchers and scientific literature on the different ways environmental enrichment can be provided for differing types of housing and systems. The information is set out in sections by housing type, and in each, the types of enrichments that are most suited to each system are discussed, including their properties, how to present the enrichment, quantities and practical considerations, such as ease of installation, maintenance and costs.