Ethological profile and productivity of suckling sows in terms of industrial technology

Abstract

The analysis of animal behavior, in particular suckling sows, allows us to identify problems of their well-being and health at the initial stages, which ensures an increase in reproductive productivity and profitability of the herd. Most often, the individual characteristics of animals associated with the type of higher nervous activity remain beyond the attention of breeders. The assessment of behavioral reactions of suckling sows with different levels of reproductive qualities (multiple fertility, lactation (nest weight at 21 days), the number of piglets in the nest at 2 months) during the period of the highest daily activity was carried out. The time spent by the sow on feeding piglets, motor activity, rest, feeding, research behavior, urination and defecation were recorded. As a result of the studies, no behavioral abnormalities were found in lactating sows that reduce their well-being, as indicated by the percentage distribution of animal activity types. A significant share in the ethological profile of animals was occupied by rest, the values of which ranged from 33.3 to 45.8%. Motor activity accounted for 10.4 to 20.8% of the studied time budget. On average, a sow spent a third of the daily activity budget on feeding and feeding piglets. The tendency to an advantage in feeding time of piglets of more fertile and dairy sows over the rest is shown. Suckling sows with productivity indicators above the average values in the sample were characterized by slightly less research activity, which probably reflects their individual characteristics.