As consumers become more cautious about what they consume, they have also began to question how animals used for consumption are raised and slaughtered as this awareness grows there has been an influx of animal welfare issues. One of the most debated issues in the agricultural world, is the housing of sows. The goal of gestation housing for sows is to produce a healthy sow and piglet in a way that does not affect the welfare of either animal, and is also cost effect for the farmer. Most gestation sows are currently housed in individual stalls. Individual stalls are for a single sow, while group pens are for a number of sows. This has become an issue though as many animal activists proclaim that group housing should be used for the sows because
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Sows housed as a group are able to experience more socialization with one another. The main problem with group housing is the aggression that the sows display towards one another. This aggression leads to problems because less aggressive sows are usually injured more often, and they receive less food than the more aggressive sows. The more aggressive sows will make sure that they receive the most feed, and they in turn become fatter than they need to be. However, there have been modifications made in some feeding systems and an electronic feeding system has been implemented which cuts down on some of the aggression within group housing, and it also makes for a healthier sow. Electronic feeding systems feed sows individually and based on their nutritional needs (The Pig Site 2013). Nevertheless, viewing the advantages and disadvantages from a scientific view point there is no significant difference in the way that the sows turn out if they are raised individually or in group settings. According to a scientific study, sows welfare is the same in both individually raised and group raised sows (McGlone & Salak-Johnson). The farrowing rate, health of piglets, behavior, and stress did not differ between the two types of housing systems. Statistically there is also more inter-sow aggression in group pens than in individual stalls (AVMA, …show more content…
The biggest disadvantage of group housing of sows is the aggression that happens within the sows. Inter-sow aggression is most common within the first two hours of introducing the sows within each other, and this aggression is a direct result of a battle of dominance. The fight for the dominant sow should be over within a day or two of introducing the sows (Marchant- Forde, 2010). Group housing will provide the sow with more room to walk around, as well as social benefits not provided in individual stalls. With an addition of the electronic feeding system there is an even further decrease in aggression between sows, and it allows for a more specialized feeding regimen for sows. Nine states have banned the use of gestation crates (individual stalls) since 2002 (Farm Sanctuary, 2014).
Although all housing systems has advantages and disadvantages, with a few modifications group housing can be viewed as a better option from a welfare perspective. As more states move toward banning gestation crates, more farmers will have to turn to group housing as an option for housing. However, the addition of electronic feeding systems could help prevent sow aggression, and uneven body conditions between
Sows housed as a group are able to experience more socialization with one another. The main problem with group housing is the aggression that the sows display towards one another. This aggression leads to problems because less aggressive sows are usually injured more often, and they receive less food than the more aggressive sows. The more aggressive sows will make sure that they receive the most feed, and they in turn become fatter than they need to be. However, there have been modifications made in some feeding systems and an electronic feeding system has been implemented which cuts down on some of the aggression within group housing, and it also makes for a healthier sow. Electronic feeding systems feed sows individually and based on their nutritional needs (The Pig Site 2013). Nevertheless, viewing the advantages and disadvantages from a scientific view point there is no significant difference in the way that the sows turn out if they are raised individually or in group settings. According to a scientific study, sows welfare is the same in both individually raised and group raised sows (McGlone & Salak-Johnson). The farrowing rate, health of piglets, behavior, and stress did not differ between the two types of housing systems. Statistically there is also more inter-sow aggression in group pens than in individual stalls (AVMA, …show more content…
The biggest disadvantage of group housing of sows is the aggression that happens within the sows. Inter-sow aggression is most common within the first two hours of introducing the sows within each other, and this aggression is a direct result of a battle of dominance. The fight for the dominant sow should be over within a day or two of introducing the sows (Marchant- Forde, 2010). Group housing will provide the sow with more room to walk around, as well as social benefits not provided in individual stalls. With an addition of the electronic feeding system there is an even further decrease in aggression between sows, and it allows for a more specialized feeding regimen for sows. Nine states have banned the use of gestation crates (individual stalls) since 2002 (Farm Sanctuary, 2014).
Although all housing systems has advantages and disadvantages, with a few modifications group housing can be viewed as a better option from a welfare perspective. As more states move toward banning gestation crates, more farmers will have to turn to group housing as an option for housing. However, the addition of electronic feeding systems could help prevent sow aggression, and uneven body conditions between