Advantages, disadvantages, and factors influencing the reproductive performance of gilts and sows raised in gestational group housing and free-farrowing systems

Authors

Natchanon Dumniem Dr., Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn UniversityFollow
Thomas D. Parsons
Padet TummarukFollow

Abstract

In the modern global pig industry, there is a growing interest in animal-friendly agriculture, encouraging farmers to prioritize humane practices and meet the welfare needs of their animals. In developed countries, consumers are increasingly concerned about animal welfare, particularly regarding pigs as social animals, advocating for their housing in groups that reflect their natural behaviors in the wild. There is significant societal pressure to eliminate the use of crate systems, which cause discomfort to animals in commercial farming. In these systems, breeding females are often restricted in movement throughout the reproductive cycle. As a result, alternative husbandry and housing systems have been developed to improve animal welfare and allow the expression of natural behaviors under semi-natural conditions. One such approach is the adoption of group housing systems for pregnant pigs and loose housing systems during farrowing and lactation. These systems provide breeding females with greater freedom of movement by enabling group rearing and increasing the space allocated per animal. Thailand has emerged as a significant pork producer in tropical Southeast Asia, but the use of gestation stalls and farrowing crates remains common across commercial swine herds. Over the past decade, there has been a growing interest among the Thai public and society in farm animal welfare. Consequently, there is a need for a comprehensive understanding of management practices for alternative systems to facilitate the transition from crate systems to loose housing systems. This presents a significant opportunity for novel research aimed at investigating the effects of alternative housing systems on health, reproduction, and productivity in female breeders under tropical conditions. This review aims to update the existing knowledge on the advantages, disadvantages, and factors influencing the reproductive performance of gilts and sows raised in gestational group housing and free-farrowing systems within the modern swine industry under tropical conditions.

DOI

10.56808/2985-1130.3785

First Page

1

Last Page

12

Recommended Citation

Dumniem, Natchanon Dr.; Parsons, Thomas D.; and Tummaruk, Padet (2025) "Advantages, disadvantages, and factors influencing the reproductive performance of gilts and sows raised in gestational group housing and free-farrowing systems," The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine: Vol. 55: Iss. 2, Article 1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56808/2985-1130.3785
Available at: https://digital.car.chula.ac.th/tjvm/vol55/iss2/1