Design of freedom farrowing pen and application effects

To overcome the inherent drawbacks of farrowing crate and traditional farrowing pen (without crate), a freedom farrowing pen was designed to decrease pre-weaning piglet mortality, and to increase sow locomotion space and litter performance. Application effects in practice were examined. Results indicated that the stillbirth rate was (10.5±3.2)%, (4.1±2.5)% and (4.2±2.6)% for freedom farrowing pens, traditional farrowing pens and farrowing crates, respectively (P<0.001). As compared to the counterparts from farrowing crates and freedom farrowing pens sows from traditional farrowing pens demonstrated shorter transition (falling) time (3.9 s) from standing to lying and higher frequencies of rolling behaviours after farrowing (24 h), due to no anti-crushing bars. Piglets from traditional farrowing pens encountered higher crushing risks, and the crushing mortality ((25.5±9.8)%) was higher than that of farrowing crate ((10.8±3.6)%) and freedom farrowing pen litters ((9.24±5.5)%). Moreover, piglet weaning weight and average daily gains was greater in freedom farrowing pens and traditional farrowing pens than those from farrowing crates (P<0.05). This research showed that the supply of freedom farrowing pen was conducive to enhancing health and welfare of the sow and litter.