Sow housing
The AVMA encourages the use of properly managed and improved housing systems that provide for enhanced sow welfare. There are welfare advantages and disadvantages with any type of sow housing. Decisions about sow housing should weigh scientific evidence and incorporate veterinary professional judgment. Sow housing and management should:
- Provide every animal access to appropriate food and water.
- Promote good air quality and allow proper sanitation.
- Protect from detrimental effects associated with environmental extremes, particularly temperature extremes.
- Reduce exposure to hazards or conditions that result in injuries, pain, distress, fear, or disease to sows and piglets.
- Facilitate evaluation and care of individual animals.
- Provide alternative housing for sows based on evaluation of each sow's individual needs.
- Provide adequate quality and quantity of space that allows sows to assume normal postures.
- Allow sows and piglets to express highly-motivated behaviors while avoiding or minimizing expression of abnormal repetitive behaviors and aggression.
- Include appropriate and ongoing training for people handling and working with sows to ensure they are able to provide and promote good welfare within the management system being used.
The AVMA also encourages ongoing research to improve social housing and to better meet sow and piglet welfare needs.