Nursing and suckling behaviour of sows and their litters before and after grouping in multi-accommodation pens

Abstract

ABSTRACTTwo groups of six sows and their litters were observed continuously the day before (day 19 post partum) and the 2 days following (days 20 and 21) movement from individual farrowing crates to multiaccommodation pens. Grouping was associated with a decline in the frequency of true nursing events, particularly in the 6-h period immediately following grouping, and with an increase in the number of false nursing events. There was a trend for a reduction in the duration of the milk let-down phase of the suckling sequence in four litters studied in detail and cross suckling was observed in all four litters. Lactational oestrus occurred in nine of the 12 sows. The study yielded little evidence for an association between nursing and suckling behaviour, and the occurrence of lactational oestrus.