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This collection features four peer-reviewed reviews on improving the welfare of gilts and sows.
The first chapter reviews current knowledge on the factors affecting the health and welfare of gilts and sows during pregnancy and parturition. The chapter considers the influence of group housing, stress and social interaction on the development of production diseases, such as post-partum dysgalactia syndrome and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome.
The second chapter provides a detailed overview of the factors affecting the welfare of pigs during breeding and gestation. The chapter considers the influence of modern pig production on animal behaviour and welfare and reviews to what extent the inability to form matriarchal groupings contributes to demonstrations of aggressive behaviour.
The third chapter concentrates on the managerial and environmental interventions that attempt to reconcile the behavioural and physiological needs of both the sow and piglets to optimise their welfare during farrowing and lactation.
The final chapter describes the welfare issues associated with individual confinement systems and examines the nature and significance of stereotyped behaviour in gestating sows. The chapter also addresses the issue of hunger in the pregnant sow and drivers to adopt group housing systems for pregnant sows.
Chapter 1 - Optimising the health of gilts and pregnant sows: S. Björkman, C. Oliviero and O. A. T. Peltoniemi, University of Helsinki, Finland; 1 Introduction 2 Biosecurity issues, vaccination and deworming 3 Production diseases causing fertility problems and reduced reproductive performance 4 Infectious diseases causing fertility problems and reduced reproductive performance 5 Non-infectious factors causing fertility problems and reduced reproductive performance 6 Parturition 7 Transfer of immunity 8 Microbiota involvement during pregnancy, parturition and lactation 9 Conclusions and clinical implications 10 References
Chapter taken from: Maes, D. and Segalés, J. (eds.), Optimising pig herd health and production, Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 2022, (ISBN 978 1 78676 883 4)
Chapter 2 - Optimising pig welfare in breeding and gestation: Paul H. Hemsworth, University of Melbourne, Australia; 1 Introduction 2 Breeding and gestation of gilts and sows 3 Animal management 4 Conclusion and future trends 5 Where to look for further information 6 References
Chapter taken from: Edwards, S. (ed.), Understanding the behaviour and improving the welfare of pigs, Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 2021, (ISBN 978 1 78676 443 0)
Chapter 3 - Optimising sow and piglet welfare during farrowing and lactation: Emma M. Baxter, Animal Behaviour and Welfare Team, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Research Group, SRUC, UK; and Sandra Edwards, Newcastle University, UK; 1 Introduction 2 Welfare challenges during farrowing and lactation 3 Mitigating welfare challenges 4 Conclusions 5 Future trends in research 6 Where to look for further information 7 References
Chapter taken from: Edwards, S. (ed.), Understanding the behaviour and improving the welfare of pigs, Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 2021, (ISBN 978 1 78676 443 0)
Chapter 4 - Welfare of gilts and pregnant sows: Sandra Edwards, University of Newcastle, UK; 1 Introduction 2 Welfare issues of individual confinement systems 3 Nature and significance of stereotyped behaviour in gestating sows 4 Hunger in the pregnant sow 5 Pressure to adopt group housing systems for pregnant sows 6 Social organisation in sows 7 Aggression in stable groups and the method of feed provision 8 Extensive systems 9 Conclusion 10 Future trends 11 Where to look for further information 12 References
Chapter taken from: Wiseman, J. (ed.), Achieving sustainable production of pig meat – Volume 3: Animal health and welfare, Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 2018, (ISBN 978 1 78676 096 8)