Research: stress does not affect sow fertility
Regrouping sows does not negatively affect their fertility, research by the Dutch Wageningen University shows.
Nevertheless, the regrouping does lead to stress.
Researcher Nicoline Soede compared two different groups of sows. One was left in peace from three weeks before insemination until three weeks after. The other was regrouped once a week in the same period.
Hierarchy fights
She concluded that the animals got stressed due to hierarchy fights. However, the sows did get pregnant as easily as those that were left alone.
Soede is surprised by the results, as she did believe the stress would negatively affect fertility. “Apparently the circumstances were very good with this field trial,” she said in V-focus magazine.
Related website:
• Wageningen University
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