Eliminative Behaviour in Preparturient Gilts Previously Kept in Pens or Stalls

The success of pens which provide pigs with a bedded resting area and an area for feeding, elimination and other activities depends on pigs' ability to show discrimination in elimination behaviour and thereby keep the resting area dry and clean. The eliminative behaviour of 16 gilts was studied during the last day of gestation when motivation for prepartum nest-building was high. During gestation the gilts had been housed in stalls (n=8) or in pens (n=8). Before parturition the animals were moved to farrowing pens with a peat and straw bedded resting area and a solid floor activity area. The gilts urinated and defecated significantly more in the activity area than in the resting area (P<0.001). However, significantly more gilts which had previously been stalled defecated in the resting area than gilts which had never been confined (P<0.05). Thus, previous housing experience may influence patterns of elimination in pigs.