Crate and pen housing compared for modern and traditional pig breeds at farrowing.

Half-hourly serial blood analyses during spontaneous, non-induced parturitions.

Gestation length was 1.2 days longer in Landrace compared to Saddleback sows.

Lower cortisol and catecholamine levels in Landrace compared to Saddleback sows.

Breed-specific endocrine control should be considered in sow management concepts.

The transition from farrowing crates to farrowing pens aims to improve animal welfare by enabling the expression of maternal behavioural profiles. This study examines the spontaneous farrowing process in both farrowing crates and pens for modern German Landrace (GL) and traditional German Saddleback (GS) pigs — two breeds with different breeding histories and adaptations to housing systems. The goal is to investigate whether, and how, both breeds benefit equally from farrowing pens. From the birth of the first piglet until 1 h after the last delivery (intrapartum; ip), half-hourly blood samples were collected from catheterized sows in addition to blood samples retrieved from antepartum (ap) and postpartum (pp) periods. After spontaneous, non-induced farrowing, the traditional GS breed exhibited a significantly shorter gestation length, smaller litter weight, and a lower incidence of labour dystocia compared to modern GL sows. Breed effects were observed for profiles of heart rate (ip: GL > GS), cortisol (ap: GL < GS; ip: GL < GS), adrenaline (ap: GL < GS), noradrenaline (ip: GL < GS), non-esterified fatty acids (ap: GL < GS; ip: GL < GS), glucose (ap: GL > GS), and β-hydroxybutyrate (ap: GL < GS) at distinct peripartum periods. Effects due to housing appeared for heart rate (ap: crate > pen) as well as respiratory rate (crate < pen) and adrenaline (crate > pen) at distinct time points. Taken together, breed-specific endocrine control and energy-related metabolic properties might suggest a need for tailored housing conditions during parturition for modern and traditional sows.

Birth process

Farrowing conditions

Female

Sow housing

Sow management

Traditional breeds

© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.