Providing periodic exercise to stall-housed gestating sows influences only the total number of live-born piglets in older parity sows

Abstract

The 2014 Canadian Pig Code of Practice includes a recommendation to provide stall-housed gestating pigs with periodic exercise. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of periodic exercise on sow performance and placental and piglet characteristics. Sows ( n = 180) were assigned to one of three gestation treatments: stall-housed sows (Control: C), stall-housed sows given weekly exercise (Exercise: E—10 min of walking per week), and group-housed sows (Group: G). Sows were distributed among three parity groups: young (parity 0–1), mid (parity 2–4), and old (parity 5–7). Old C sows had a higher number of total born than G sows, and E sows were intermediate; mid G sows had a higher total born than E and C sows ( P = 0.023). Old E and G sows had similar numbers of total live-born piglets, which were higher than in old C sows ( P = 0.033). Periodic exercise did not influence placental and piglet characteristics in the current study. In conclusion, periodic exercise benefited only the reproductive performance of older parity sows, increasing the number of live-born piglets in E and G sows compared to C sows.