Effects of Farrowing Stall Layout and Number of Heat Lamps on Sow and Piglet Production Performance

Abstract

Most farrowing facilities in the United States use stalls and heat lamps to improve sow and piglet productivity. This study investigated these factors by comparing production outcomes for three different farrowing stall layouts (traditional, expanded creep area, expanded sow area) and use of one or two heat lamps. Data were collected on 427 sows and their litters over one year. Results showed no statistical differences due to experimental treatment for any of the production metrics recorded, excluding percent stillborn. Parity one sows had fewer piglets born alive (p < 0.001), lower percent mortality (p = 0.001) and over-lay (p = 0.003), and a greater number of piglets weaned (p < 0.001) with lower average daily weight gain (ADG) (p < 0.001) and more uniform litters (p = 0.001) as compared to higher parity sows. Farrowing turn, associated with group/seasonal changes, had a significant impact on most of the production metrics measured. Number of piglets born influenced the percent stillborn (p < 0.001). Adjusted litter size had a significant impact on percent mortality (p < 0.001), percent over-lay (p < 0.001), and number of piglets weaned (p < 0.001). As the number of piglets weaned per litter increased, both piglet ADG and litter uniformity decreased (p < 0.001). This information can be used to guide producers in farrowing facility design.

Keywords: creep area; daily gain; farrowing design; housing; lactation; litter uniformity; over-lay; pre-weaning mortality; sow crate; sow parity; stillborn.

Figure 1

Data were collected on 25 turns of sows entering the farrowing facility. Three farrowing rooms were used and collection occurred from September 2017 to October 2018. Average daily ambient and indoor (average for all three farrowing rooms) air temperatures are displayed.

Figure 2

Three experimental farrowing stall layouts used for traditional stall layout (T), expanded creep area layout (C), and expanded sow area layout (S). Shaded areas indicate piglet creep areas and striped areas are sow areas. Sow feeders, shown in solid black, had outer dimensions of (L×W) 0.35 × 0.34 m, of which 0.23 m of feeder length extended into the sow stall area. The “X” symbol represents double water assemblies which were mounted on the bars of the side of the sow stall approximately 0.3 m from the front of the stall. All dimensions are in meters.

Figure 3

Experimental layout for arbitrarily selected turns 20-22. Stall layouts were randomized once and remained constant throughout the study, while heat lamp treatments were re-randomized for each turn.

Figure 4

Distribution of percent stillborn piglets by treatment. On the boxplots dark lines within the boxes represent the median value while the box shows the interquartile range. The endpoints of the whiskers show 1.5 times the interquartile range, and dots mark any values that are outside of the whisker range. Stall layouts: traditional (T), expanded creep area (C), expanded sow area (S); Heat lamp treatments: one heat lamp (1HL), two heat lamps (2HL).

Figure 5

Summary of piglet percent PWM by turn, showing significant seasonal variation (p < 0.001). Overall average mortality was 13.1%, shown by the solid black line.

Figure 6

Piglet mortality by cause (general PWM or over-lay) as it occurred within each treatment group. Error bars display standard error by group and mortality cause. Stall layouts: traditional (T), expanded creep area (C), expanded sow area (S); Heat lamp treatments: one heat lamp (1HL), two heat lamps (2HL).

Figure 7

Number of piglets weaned per litter by turn. Overall average number of piglets weaned per litter was 10.5, shown by the solid black line.

Figure 8

Differences in litter uniformity based on sow parity. Minimum, average, and maximum wean weight of individual piglets within litter are shown.