Comparison of the Welfare of Gestation Sows Raised in Different Production Systems in North Vietnam.

Intensification and complexity of pig production systems may require different strategies for animal welfare improvement. We aimed to identify welfare issues of gestation sows and areas for improvement by comparing four production systems, including the smallholder pen-based system (SPS: 26 farms), smallholder stall-based system (SSS:14 farms), semi-intensive stall-based system (SES: 15 farms), and intensive stall-based system (ISS: 10 farms). Ten significant animal-based measures in the Welfare Quality® protocol were used for welfare assessment at the individual level. Stall-housed sows in SES and ISS faced more welfare problems where sows presented a higher prevalence of poor body condition (P < 0.001), wounds on body (P = 0.003), fear of humans (P < 0.001), and stereotypies (P < 0.001) than pen-housed sows in the SPS. Sows in the SPS presented the highest prevalence of panting (P < 0.001). Welfare improvement should be focused on minimizing the adverse effects of hot weather on sows in the SPS and SSS and redesigning a more welfare-friendly housing system that prevents sows from the risk of wounds on body and enables them to perform motivated behaviors in the SES and ISS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]