The Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) is currently compiling results gathered from trials of a new higher-welfare pig pen, which is being tested commercially by British farmers. So far the research shows the new pen is better for the sow and her piglets, although if it is to be commercially successful it will also need to benefit the farmer. image expired

The new pen, which improves the conditions in which sows can give birth, has been shown to have vast welfare improvement, but costs farmers more in space and construction costs. Research from the Scottish Agricultural College has concluded that using specially designed, more spacious pens, rather than farrowing crates, benefits sows and their piglets.

However, industry groups, who claim that pig farmers are losing between £7 and £10 per animal due, in part, to rising feed and fuel costs, have said struggling British farmers cannot afford to have any more money shaved off their margins. The SAC researchers are therefore trying to identify areas where the new welfare improvements could harmonise with the industry’s needs, for example in increasing efficiency and lowering piglet mortality.

The new pens have sloping sides to help the sow lie down gently and quietly and prevent piglets from getting squashed against the sides. They also use straw for nest building, as Vicky Morgan, one of the producers trialling the new method explained, “We have done a lot of work on using straw; sows like to make a nest in the wild and we think straw is critical. The research would indicate that the ability to make a nest is important. The consequences of making a nest would be that [the sow] is able to farrow more naturally, easily and hopefully more successfully.”

Dr Emma Baxter, who led the research for the SAC, explained the welfare implications of the new farrowing techniques, “Currently the sow is constrained in a crate for farrowing, and for nest building and the whole of lactation. In our system she is allowed to be loose throughout that period. The important period is the nest building phase, which is the period before she gives birth; this is when she has a strong motivation to have space.”

She continued, “The findings are consistent; for sows kept in crates, they show elevated heart rates, stress hormone responses and negative and abnormal behaviours, which are indicative of an impaired welfare state, whereas if she is allowed to be loose in a pen a sow doesn’t show these stress hormones to the same extent. She shows much more natural behaviour, including improved maternal behaviour.”

Dr Baxter explained that, as piglet mortality is a huge problem in the industry, whether sows are kept loose or not a minor improvement could increase the commercial viability of the new system. She explained piglet survival is currently around the same levels in both systems, though said the improved welfare system did slightly increase the risk of overlying, she maintained that this remains a problem when farrowing crates are used, and the new system decreases the risk of piglets being born dead and dying of malnutrition.

Nevertheless, the system costs more. Once the SAC’s research is completed Defra will release the findings, which will give a full picture of the costs. However, according to Dr Baxter, the preliminary results show the new pens could cost up to 40 per cent more than a crate space. This would add 2 per cent (2-3 pence per kilo) to the price of production.

Dr Baxter remains confident that the initial capital investment cost can be recouped in other areas, including improved welfare considerations which could translate to higher retail prices for consumers and better performance in terms of piglet survival, higher weaning rates and better rebreeding efficiency.