Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Pork Featured Articles

Better Pork magazine is published bimonthly. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Why do some sows prefer to stay out of their stalls?

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Given a choice, some pregnant sows simply choose to stay in their 26-inch wide gestation stalls, according to research conducted by the Prairie Swine Centre in Saskatchewan, published on the website of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians.

The study found that 95 per cent of the sows left their stalls at some point to be in a group area but, over 24 hours, about 40 per cent spent less than two per cent of their time outside the stalls. Other animals spent 80 to 90 per cent of their time outside the stalls in a common area with other gestating animals.

Animal behaviourist Harold Gonyou observed that the sows that stayed out tended to be older, larger sows and that raised some questions. Are the younger sows avoiding these larger animals and staying in their space for protection against bullying? Or are the 26-inch wide stalls too small for the older animals and so they choose to lie down elsewhere? BP

Current Issue

February 2026

Better Pork Magazine

Farms.com Swine News

New Phobos™ FC360 Fungicide Boosts Crop Protection

Thursday, March 12, 2026

ViveCrop Protection has announced the Canadian registration ofPhobos™FC360, a new foliar fungicide developed to provide stronger disease protection and improved on-leaf performance for farmers. The product will be available for growers across Canada beginning in the 2026 growing... Read this article online

Alberta RCMP asking for help identifying vehicle

Thursday, March 12, 2026

Parkland RCMP is appealing to the public related to a crime on the property of an Alberta ag society. Police say suspects drove a gold or silver GMC Sierra onto the Rich Valley Agricultural Society’s property and drove through the outbuilding’s bay door on March 10 between 2:00 and 2:45... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2026 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top