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The welfare implications of large litter size in the domestic pig I: biological factors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

KMD Rutherford ,
EM Baxter ,
RB D’Eath ,
SP Turner ,
G Arnott ,
R Roehe ,
B Ask ,
P SandØe ,
VA Moustsen  and
F Thorup
...Show all authors
KMD Rutherford*
Affiliation:
Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Animal and Veterinary Science Research Group, SRUC, West Mains Rd, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK
EM Baxter
Affiliation:
Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Animal and Veterinary Science Research Group, SRUC, West Mains Rd, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK
RB D’Eath
Affiliation:
Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Animal and Veterinary Science Research Group, SRUC, West Mains Rd, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK
SP Turner
Affiliation:
Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Animal and Veterinary Science Research Group, SRUC, West Mains Rd, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK
G Arnott
Affiliation:
Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Animal and Veterinary Science Research Group, SRUC, West Mains Rd, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK
R Roehe
Affiliation:
Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Animal and Veterinary Science Research Group, SRUC, West Mains Rd, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK
B Ask
Affiliation:
Danish Agriculture and Food Council, Pig Research Centre, Axelborg, Axeltorv 3, DK-1609 Kbh V, Denmark
P SandØe
Affiliation:
Department of Large Animal Sciences & Institute of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen, Groennegaardsvej 8, DK-1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
VA Moustsen
Affiliation:
Danish Agriculture and Food Council, Pig Research Centre, Axelborg, Axeltorv 3, DK-1609 Kbh V, Denmark
F Thorup
Affiliation:
Danish Agriculture and Food Council, Pig Research Centre, Axelborg, Axeltorv 3, DK-1609 Kbh V, Denmark
SA Edwards
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, University of Newcastle, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
P Berg
Affiliation:
NordGen, Nordic Genetic Resource Center, Norway Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Aarhus, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark
AB Lawrence
Affiliation:
Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Animal and Veterinary Science Research Group, SRUC, West Mains Rd, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
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Abstract

Increasing litter size has long been a goal of pig breeders and producers, and may have implications for pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) welfare. This paper reviews the scientific evidence on biological factors affecting sow and piglet welfare in relation to large litter size. It is concluded that, in a number of ways, large litter size is a risk factor for decreased animal welfare in pig production. Increased litter size is associated with increased piglet mortality, which is likely to be associated with significant negative animal welfare impacts. In surviving piglets, many of the causes of mortality can also occur in non-lethal forms that cause suffering. Intense teat competition may increase the likelihood that some piglets do not gain adequate access to milk, causing starvation in the short term and possibly long-term detriments to health. Also, increased litter size leads to more piglets with low birth weight which is associated with a variety of negative long-term effects. Finally, increased production pressure placed on sows bearing large litters may produce health and welfare concerns for the sow. However, possible biological approaches to mitigating health and welfare issues associated with large litters are being implemented. An important mitigation strategy is genetic selection encompassing traits that promote piglet survival, vitality and growth. Sow nutrition and the minimisation of stress during gestation could also contribute to improving outcomes in terms of piglet welfare. Awareness of the possible negative welfare consequences of large litter size in pigs should lead to further active measures being taken to mitigate the mentioned effects.

Keywords

animal welfarebirth weightlitter sizemortalitypigletsow
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 22 , Issue 2 , May 2013 , pp. 199 - 218
Copyright
© 2013 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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