Comparison of the reproductive performance of sows kept outdoors in Croatia with that of sows kept indoors

In this Eastern-European study the reproductive lifetime performance of indoor or outdoor kept sows were compared. Twenty-one indoor (280-952 sows per herd) and 12 outdoor (35-251 sows per herd) units of identical feeding, similar genetics and health status were evaluated. Indoor sows were kept in identical crates and outdoor sows were kept in uninsulated huts. Indoor kept sows were significantly (P<0.01) older at culling, had a lower percentage of unproductive days (P<0.001), lower culling rate but a higher mortality rate (P<0.05). As a consequence of the lower number of farrowings in the herd outdoor sows produced less piglets born (P<0.01), liveborn (P<0.01) and weaned (P<0.001). The present results indicate that outdoor production systems under unfavorable climatic and environmental condition may be associated with lower reproduction performance. Continental climate with high temperature fluctuations may present a risk factor for successful low-investment outdoor sow systems. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.