Is your feeding system the best option for your sows?

Do you floor-feed? Do you use individual feeding stalls? And what exactly are the welfare implications of adopting different feeding systems?
Aggression in floor-feeding systems peaks immediately following the delivery of food and continues until most of the food is consumed
Aggression in floor-feeding systems peaks immediately following the delivery of food and continues until most of the food is consumed
References
References
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(1997) Modifying the design of group pens with individual feeding places affects the welfare of pigs.. Fifth international livestock environment symposium 965-971
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(2010) Aggressive behaviour in two different group-housing systems for pregnant sows.. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 13: 137-153
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(1987) Aggressive behaviour of grouped sows in different contexts.. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 17:368-369
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(1992) Scientific perspectives on loose housing systems for dry sows.. Pig Veterinary Journal 28: 40-51
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(2015) Hunger in pregnant sows: Effects of a fibrous diet and free access to straw.. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 171: 81-87
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(2012) Feeding motivation and plasma metabolites in pregnant sows fed diets rich in dietary fiber either once or twice daily.. Journal of Animal Science 90: 1910-1919
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(2015a) Effects of group housing on sow welfare: a review.. Journal of Animal Science 93: 1999-2017
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(2015b) Short and long-term repeatability of individual sow aggressiveness.. Animal Production Science 55: 1512
Verdon, M., Morrison, R., Rice, M., Hemsworth, P.
(2016) Individual variation in sow aggressive behavior and its relationship with sow welfare.. Journal of Animal Science 94: 1203-1214
Verdon, M., Zegarra, N., Achayra, R., Hemsworth, P.H.
(2018) Floor feeding sows their daily allocation over multiple drops per day does not result in more equitable feeding opportunities in later drops.. Animals 8: 1-12
Verdon, M.J., Rault, J.L.
(2018) Aggression in group housed sows and fattening pigs.. Advances in pig welfare. Elsevier 235-260 United Kingdom
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Dr Megan Verdon

Research fellow, University of Tasmania

Dr Megan Verdon has worked as a research fellow with Zoos Victoria, the University of Melbourne and, currently, the University of Tasmania.

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