USDA Examines Sow Housing Alternatives

May 17, 2012 — 

The May 16, 2012 edition of the USDA Economic Research Service’s Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook Report contains a Special Article examining the issue of gestation housing in the U.S. swine industry. The report discusses the advantages and disadvantages with both individual and group housing systems and provides a synopsis of the pertinent research. The report generally concludes that, while a number of retailers are requiring pork suppliers convert to group housing, the science does not show a welfare advantage to group housing over individual housing. The article also outlines the challenges associated with group housing such as increased fighting and feeding challenges, while emphasizing the importance of the producer’s animal handling/management skills as the key to maintaining productivity of sows housed in pens.