Analysis of reproductive performances of sows in relation to housing systems

The study analyzes the different housing systems adopted in 71 pig farms in the North of Italy (totally about 30 000 sows), identifying 6 solutions for dry sows: G) group housing; S) individual stalls; SG1) stalls in the first period of pregnancy (less than 28 days) and group housing in the second period; SG2) stalls in the first period of pregnancy (more than 28 days) and group housing in the second period; GS) group housing in the first period of pregnancy and stalls in the second period; M) mixed situations. The collective housing systems prevail (55%), but the single stalls are still widely preferred by the breeders in the first phases of reproductive cycle. In the study the fixed housing typologies are combined to the reproductive performances. The housing of sows in individual stalls during the whole productive cycle in comparison to the other housing systems gives better performances in terms of total born per litter, liveborn per litter, weaned piglets, farrowing rate, weaned piglets per sow per year.