When it comes to group housing for gestation sows, there are usually two major categories of housing based on the feeding system – protected and non-protected (or also conventionally known as non-competitive vs. competitive) systems. Protected feeding systems include individual free access stalls and most electronic sow feeders (ESF). In these systems, sows move into a protected space and can feed individually, relatively undisturbed. Non-protected feeding systems include floor feeding, long trough feeding or shoulder stall feeding. Contrary to the protected systems, sows feed together socially with little or no barrier between them. As adult sows have social hierarchy and pregnant sows are usually restrictedly fed to maintain a healthy body condition during gestation, feeding is a time that can create aggression due to competition, stress and physical injuries. The selection of a suitable feeding system is therefore a critical consideration for producers who are transitioning to group housing of sows.
