The NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Swine Welfare says the research has shown gestating sows housed in stalls will benefit from the opportunity to exercise.
"Exercising sows, What producers need to know" was among the topics discussed as part of the Prairie Swine Centre's 2018 series of Spring Producer Meetings.
Dr. Yolande Seddon, the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Swine Welfare and an Assistant Professor in Swine Behavior and Welfare with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, says changes to the Canadian Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs which, as of July 2024, will require producers who operate stall barns to provide gestating sows the opportunity to exercise has made freedom of movement a top of mind issue.
Dr. Yolande Seddon-Western College of Veterinary Medicine:
Largely I would say a lot of it is kind of common sense.
There have been a few studies out there that, if you actually do provide stall housed sows with exercise, exercise being where the heart rate is being raised, so three times a week for 30 minutes and there was another study that did two hours a week seven days a week or something like that.
What they did find was benefits to muscle tone.
Bone density has been shown to improve, also increased blood flow and particularly they've looked at the reproductive effects of increased umbilical blood flow and they believe welfare benefits to the sow make fewer posture changes after they've been exercised which could indicate they've got rid of a lot of energy and are feeling comfortable.
Source : Farmscape