Assessment of a group-housing system for gestating sows: Effects of space allowance and pen size on the incidence of superficial skin lesions, changes in body condition, and farrowing performance

Materials and methods: Pregnant multiparous Yorkshire sows (N = 285) were housed in static groups of 11 to 31 sows in SMALL (34.0 to 49.5 m2) or LARGE pens (72.5 to 74.5 m2) with 2.3 m2 (n = 2,2), 2.8 m2 (n = 3,2) or 3.2 m2 (n = 4,2) per sow. A reference population of 98 sows was housed in gestation stalls. Sows were scored for body condition upon entering and leaving their respective housing treatments. Shoulder skin lesions were assessed 24 hours premixing, 24 hours postmixing, and weekly thereafter for 5 weeks. Liveborn piglets, stillborn piglets, and individual piglet birth weights were recorded for each sow.