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

December 2025

Better Pork Magazine

Farms.com Swine News

Manitoba suspends price increase on 1L milk cartons

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Manitobans won’t see any price changes on 1L milk cartons in 2026. The same prices shoppers paid in 2025—$2.10 for homogenized, $2.03 for 2%, $1.97 for 1%, and $1.93 for skim milk, will remain the same as part of the government’s plan to help address affordability concerns. “An... Read this article online

Nutrien Rewards Prairie Farm Champions

Thursday, January 15, 2026

NutrienLtd. has announced the winners of the second Hometown Yield Challenge, a program created to encourage strong crop production while giving back to rural communities. The challenge was open to farmers in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan and focused on both yield performance and... Read this article online

Syngenta brings Elatus Era fungicide to lentil growers

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Canadian lentil farmers have a new fungicide available to them this growing season through Syngenta’s Elatus Era. “This represents an evolution in our lentil disease protection from what we currently have on the market as Elatus,” Carolyn Wilson, technical lead for fungicides with... Read this article online

Canola industry says reopening Chinese market a priority

Thursday, January 15, 2026

The Canola Council of Canada wants the prime minister’s trip to China to be a successful one. “We have been clear that this is a political issue that requires a political solution, to be resolved at the highest levels between our two governments. With this in mind, we are encouraged by... 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