Effect of housing systems on the reproductive performance of sows*

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to find out the effect of three types of housing systems namely,conventional house with wallowing tank (Control T₁), conventional house with sprinklers (T₂) and range system (T₃) on the reproductive performace of sows. Eighteen sows were reared under each system. A significantly lower (P<0.01) air temperature was observed in sprinkler system(33.0°C) and range (34.35°C). There was no significant difference in relative humidity between the groups. The weight of sows at the time of breeding, one week after farrowing and at weaning were significantly lower (P<0.05) in treatment group T₁ (95.55±2.38 kg, 116.58±4.5kg and 110.27±4.43kg respectively) when compared to T₂(111.58±7.48 kg, 138.97±8.32 kg and 129.54±8.22kg respectively) and T₃ (114.44±4.56 kg 141.14±6.67kg and 13 7.36±6.4 tkg). Significantly higher (P<0.01) percentage of oestrus occurrence, breeding success and intensity of oestrus were observed in T₂ and T₃ groups than T1 group. The gestation length and postweaning oestrus period were similar. The litter size at birth and weaning in T₁ (9.38±0.33 and 6.92±0.05) and T₂(9.44±0.31 and 6.44±0.34) sows were significantly (P<0.01) higher than Tp.09±0.68 and 4.63±0.70 respectively). Between T₂ and T₃ there was no significant difference. The litter weight at birth and weaning 14.35±0.52 kg and 63.84±4.04kg), respectively, in T₃ group of sows were found to be significantly (P<0.01) higher than T₁. In the present study the reproductive performance of pigs maintained under sprmkler under conventional system.