This research was carried out in the gestation facility, with 24 gilts, 12 females housed in individual cages and 12 housed in collective pens, to evaluate different housing systems (individual cages, collective pens) for pregnant sows, aiming to describe quantitative and qualitative aspects of environment and the characteristics that influence the production system. This work was divided in two stages in function of the way chose for data analysis: bioclimatic and housing system analysis. Bioclimatic evaluation was realized by registering meteorological elements, inside gestation room and in external environment. Housing system evaluation was realized by behavioral relationships, physiological parameters and productive indexes. A completely randomized blocks design was used, with two housing system and 67 blocks. The environmental characteristics pointed the collective pens housing system as the one that permitted better natural thermal conditioning for pregnant gilts. Physiological characteristics and productive indexes showed more adequate values for collective pens housing system, as well as its consequence in the farrowing performance of the pigs. Behavior evaluation, performed by image monitoring using video cameras, showed lower incidence of behaviors resulting of environmental stress, stereotypes and aggressive interactions in collective pens housing system.
animal behavior; thermal comfort of buildings; welfare
