Can sows be raised in groups?

Sow grazing refers to sows of the same breed, similar in size and similar in physiological cycle (referring to weaning, estrus and mating date). Four or five sows are kept in a pigsty, and pigs can move freely and eat freely. 5 ~7 days before labor, they were transferred to the delivery bar alone for delivery. 3 ~5 days after delivery, if the pen is tight and the nipples of piglets are fixed, 2 ~ 3 lactating sows can also be raised in groups. The traditional sow keeps one pig in a row, which has low utilization rate of pens, heavy workload of breeders and inconvenient observation of sow estrus; Sows stimulate and climb each other during estrus, with obvious estrus symptoms, more ovulation, high mating rate and many children.

At present, sows are kept in cages and iron cages. Sows lose their freedom and are prone to diseases such as limb and hoof disease, constipation, bedsore and inflammation of birth canal, which leads to the decline of reproductive ability, low survival ability and shortened service life of sows. Now the EU has made a decision that after 20 12, all countries in the EU will cancel the caging technology of pigs and improve animal welfare.

Sows are raised in groups, which accords with the biological characteristics of pigs. There will be a period of struggle when sows are raised in groups, but the struggle will gradually subside after the ranking is decided. When sows in estrus are raised in groups, they will climb over each other without fighting. Pregnant sows generally become docile and cautious, and generally do not fight fiercely. However, just in case, the sows that want to herd should rush to the open place to get familiar with them before they herd, and then herd and feed them.

Lactating sows can also be raised in groups. If the confinement time is tight, sows can also be raised in groups after 3 days of delivery, and it is advisable to have two or three sows. Before breeding, each litter of pigs should be marked separately to avoid that sows and their piglets can still be fed in a single row when breeding is unsuccessful. Put the piglets to be mated in a litter box and mix for more than 1 hour, so that their smells are mixed with each other. Put the sows to be combined in another column, and then put the sows and piglets in one column. Under normal circumstances, you can live in groups at one time, and sows will not attack other piglets.

Social sows should be fed in different parts. The so-called partition is a partition made of bricks or other materials, which is 30 cm ~40 cm high and 40 cm ~50 cm long. Sows feed in it, and the feeding is divided into four or five partitions. Sows feed every once in a while, and no other pigs feed them, and bullies will not compete for the feed of cowards, so as to ensure that sows are fed evenly and keep pregnant sows in a good reproductive state. Social sows should be clearly marked, and once they fall off, they should be replenished in time to avoid affecting delivery care.