The effect of feed trough position on choice of defecation area in farrowing pens by loose sows

The primary aim of the present study was to investigate how the feed trough position affects the sow's choice of defecation area in a loose house farrowing pen. The eliminative behaviour of 24 1st parity sows was studied in a cross-over design. The feed trough and the water were positioned either in the activity area towards the neighbouring pen or in the activity area towards the aisle. On day 15 after farrowing, the feed trough and the water were moved to the opposite position. Videotapes were observed continuously on real time and the time of urination or defecation were recorded along with head and hindquarter positions in the period of days 7–14 and in the period of days 21–28 after farrowing. The feed trough position had a significant effect (P < 0.001) on sow head position when eliminating. Sows preferred the head to be located as far away from the resting area and the feed trough as possible when eliminating. For the hindquarter position, there was a significant effect (P < 0.001) of feed trough position on the number of observations that the hindquarter was over the slatted area when eliminating. A confounding effect could be that the sow's hindquarter position was influenced by a partition wall placed in one end of the pen. No significant difference was found between observations periods on frequency of urination or defecation. The results demonstrate the importance of design of farrowing pens for loose housed sows to ensure that the sow eliminate in the designated areas.