Welfare and performance of sows and piglets in farrowing pens with temporary crating system on a Spanish commercial farm

The study aimed to compare the welfare and performance of sows piglets in three different farrowing systems (farrowing crate (FC) pen with temporary crating (TC): SWAP JLF15). One batch crossbred Duroc was followed every season. There were 18 (183 piglets) FC, 23 (243 SWAP, (237 JLF15. Farrowing day Day (D) 0 weaning occurred on D24. Crating period from entry 1-day pre-expected D3 TC. Social interactions between littermates, piglets, exploration by observed D2, D4, D12, D23. Video recordings crushing events which led piglets’ death studied. Piglets weighed D19, foreleg abrasions assessed D19. Sow saliva samples collected 1 before after confinement, D23 evaluate cortisol (CORT) chromogranin A (CgA) levels. TC initiated naso-naso contacts more frequently than FC D2 (P ≤ 0.01). interacted D12 0.05). explored pens D4 Crushing rate (i.e. number per sow) (1.2 ± 0.3) higher those JLF15 (0.6 0.2) (0.3 0.1) 0.02), that < 0.0001). Autumn showed lowest amongst batches 0.001). Number incidents similar when crated or loose = 0.54). percentage occasions used a support changing posture but still crushed No difference growth abrasion found systems. CORT peaked CgA remained elevated during lactation. Our results suggested facilitated mother-young interactions; rate; changed their differently batches; practice did not alter level stress biomarkers sows.