The majority of slatted concrete floors for group-housed sows are designed for ease of manure management. However, such floors can be associated with sows’ lying and walking discomfort, feet injuries and lameness. This study was designed to evaluate the impacts of a narrower slat and gap widths flooring on sow comfort and behaviour as well as manure management. Gilts were followed through two gestations housed on either a concrete floor with a slat width of 105 mm and gaps of 19 mm (Test; 1 group of 25 gilts) or a flooring with a slat width of 125 mm and gaps of 25 mm (Control; 1 group of 24 gilts) and fed with electronic sow feeders. Slat friction, air temperature, humidity and ammonia concentrations were recorded throughout. Floor and animal cleanliness were assessed weekly. For each sow gait score, limb weight distribution, postural behaviour, feet lesions, time budget of activities, body weight, backfat, and reproductive performances were measured at beginning and end of gestation. Air environment values remained within acceptable limits, with no significant (P>0.05) differences between Test and Control rooms. Floor and animal cleanliness were similar for Test and Control. The coefficient of friction of floors decreased markedly within the first week of occupancy then stabilized throughout gestation without differences between treatments. The overall incidence of lameness was similar for Test (16.7%) and Control (14.4%), but more Control sows required analgesic treatment. The severity of heel overgrowth and erosion was greater on front and rear feet and for wall cracks on rear feet of Control sows. Some effects were evident within one week of being on the Control floor and therefore may have been pre-existing. Control sows spent more time weight-shifting in late gestation and showed more variability in the weight applied on hind legs. Control sows spent more time standing at week 6, being awake passive at week 10 and in social interactions at the end of gestation 1 than Test sows. There were no significant (P>0.05) differences in frequency of posture changes, sow body weight, backfat and reproductive performance between treatments. While results did not show marked differences in animal performances, sows on the wider (Control) slat and gap flooring had higher feet lesion scores and indicators of greater discomfort while standing. Therefore, the narrower slat and gap widths tested may provide benefits in terms of feet health and sow comfort without compromising manure management and air quality.

群养母猪的大多数水泥板条地板都是为了简化粪便管理而设计的。但是，这些地板可能与母猪的躺卧和行走不适，脚伤和and行有关。这项研究旨在评估较窄的板条和缝隙宽度地板对母猪舒适性和行为以及粪便管理的影响。后备母猪经过两次孕育，她们被安置在板条宽度为105 mm，间隙为19 mm的水泥地板上（测试；一组25个后备母猪）或板条宽度为125 mm，间隙为25 mm的地板（对照组） ；每组24头小母猪），并用电子母猪喂食。整个记录板条摩擦，空气温度，湿度和氨浓度。每周评估地板和动物的清洁度。对于每个母猪步态得分，肢体重量分布，姿势行为，在妊娠开始和结束时测量足部病变，活动时间预算，体重，背脂和生殖能力。空气环境值保持在可接受的范围内，测试室和控制室之间没有显着差异（P> 0.05）。测试和控制的地板和动物清洁度相似。地板的摩擦系数在使用的第一周内显着下降，然后在整个妊娠期稳定下来，各治疗之间无差异。试验（16.7％）和对照组（14.4％）的la行总发生率相似，但是更多的对照组母猪需要镇痛治疗。对照母猪的前脚和后脚的脚跟过度生长和侵蚀的严重程度更高，而后脚的壁裂缝则更大。在控制楼层的一周内，一些影响显而易见，因此可能已经存在。对照母猪在妊娠后期花费了更多的时间转移体重，并且在后腿上施加的体重表现出更多的变异性。对照母猪在第6周的站立时间比在测试母猪上花费的时间更多，在第10周时处于清醒状态，在妊娠1结束时处于社交互动状态。处理之间的姿势改变频率，母猪体重，背脂和生殖性能之间无显着（P> 0.05）差异。虽然结果并未显示出动物性能的显着差异，但较宽的（对照）板条和缝隙地板上的母猪的脚部病变得分更高，站立时的不适感也更大。因此，