Abstract

SUESCUN-OSPINA, Sandra T  and  OCAMPO-DURAN, Álvaro. Behavior and productive performance of sows in outdoors farrowing system in the foothills of the Meta department in Colombia. Orinoquia [online]. 2015, vol.19, n.1, pp.35-43. ISSN 0121-3709.

This study aimed to establish a baseline concerning the patterns of animal behaviour and production pattern in an outdoor pig-breeding system in the foothills of the Meta department in Colombia. Six nulliparous Landrace × Pietrain crossbred sows were used; assigned to groups of three, according to animal density (T1: 450 and T2: 150 m²/sow), housed collectively during gestation and fed on a balanced diet according to their requirements depending on their physiological stage. Two consecutive pregnancies were monitored for determining changes in animal behaviour and production parameters regarding the seasonality (rainy and/or dry season) and the density of the animal. No significant differences were found regarding production parameters, seasonality, animal density or gestation. Regardless of treatment, the number of births per sow per year was two, production results concerning the second birth (NPB 11.5, WPB 1.32 kg, NPW 8.33, WPW 8.8 kg, 87.5% fertility rate) were higher than those of the first birth. These results are similar to reference results for outdoor pig production systems. Furthermore, highly significant changes (p < 0.005) were found regarding the expression of activities related to exploration and thermoregulation (resting, walking and bathing). The results indicated that the sows had a high capacity for adaptation to the system and potential for this system's development in foothill conditions in the Meta department and elsewhere.

Keywords : Open field bred sow; pig breeding; animal ethology; production indicator; the Meta department.

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