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Objective: The aim of this study was to show the effects of alternative farrowing systems (pens with temporary crating) on the behaviour of sows and piglets. Moreover, performance data of sows in two different alternative farrowing pens and in the conventional crate were compared under practical conditions., Material and Methods: Over the trial period (April 2016 - February 2017), production data from a total of 113 sows in two alternative farrowing pens ("Petra" [P] and "Freya" [F]) and in the conventional crate (K) were recorded. In behavioural observations of 103 sows and their piglets, the lying down behaviour of the sows according to defined parameters for a "careful" lying down behaviour and the activity behaviour of the piglets were documented. Furthermore, each crushing event of piglets was analysed., Results: There were no significant differences in production performance between the three different farrowing systems. The majority of crushing events occurred in the farrowing pens while crating. Sows in the two alternative farrowing pens showed a more careful lying down behaviour than sows in the crate. A significantly higher activity of the piglets in pen F could be shown in comparison with pens K and P throughout the entire observation period (p < 0.001)., Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: According to the results, a reduction of the fixation in the crate and a greater space affects the behaviour of the sows in a positive manner. Moreover, a positive influence of the alternative farrowing pens on the piglets' behaviour could be demonstrated. On the basis of the production data recorded in this study, fixation of the sows over the entire suckling period to avoid piglet losses is not necessary and this practice cannot be justified regarding animal welfare., Competing Interests: Die Autoren bestätigen, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether early socialising of piglets influences the later behaviour and the risk of tail biting in growing and finishing pigs., Material and Methods: The behaviour of 183 animals (divided in three successive runs) was recorded from birth until the end of the fattening period. Furthermore, the condition of the teats of the sows as well as the integument and tails of the growing and finishing pigs were evaluated. To socialize the piglets, four litters of the experimental group (V) were provided with additional space (walkway) by opening "piglet-doors" (day 10 postpartum of the youngest litter). The piglets of the control group (K) were reared in conventional farrowing crates located in the same compartment of the stable. Post-weaning, the piglets were assigned to three groups: the experimental group (V/V, two litters of group V), the control group (K/K, two litters of group K) and the mixed group (V/K, one litter of group V and one litter of group K)., Results: After opening the "piglet-doors", piglets of group V displayed significantly more playing behaviour than piglets of group K. Additionally, the agonistic behaviour increased in group V. Post-weaning, at allocation and mixing, animals of group V/V showed significantly less agonistic behaviour than pigs of group K/K. Tail-biting behaviour occurred in all three groups, but only in runs two and three. On the 100th day of the fattening period, 58.7% of the pigs of group V/V, 51.7% of group V/K and 43.3% of group K/K still had intact tails. In pigs of group K/K, the tails were significantly shorter compared to the other two groups., Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: Early socialization enhances piglet welfare in farrowing pens by encouraging playing behaviour. Less agonistic behaviour at allocation could furthermore reduce stress at mixing and allocation. The aim to reduce the incidence of tail-biting could not be achieved. However, socializing piglets in lactation could contribute, in accordance with other measures, to an influence on biting behaviour.