Biosketch
Vivi received her M.Sc. in Animal Science from The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University in Frederiksberg, Denmark, in 1995, and her PhD in Animal Science at the same University in 2002. Vivi has been focusing on research and development production conditions for farrowing and lactating sows. From 2002 and onwards the emphasis has been on development of systems for loose housed farrowing and lactating sows. The research includes determination of sow and piglets dimensions, space needed for important behaviours and criteria for pen design as well as water accessibility, sows’ nursing capabilities and large litters. The aim of SEGES is to develop, test and recommend the best technologies for production of pigs in Denmark.
As chief scientist, she is involved in assimilation of results to end users and ongoing encouragement to get results to work in practice. In addition, Aarestrup Moustsen has been the author/coauthor of a number of peer review scientific papers, abstracts for international conferences, and is also reviewer for a couple of scientific journals. In addition to her work at SEGES, Aarestrup Moustsen has been honorary associate professor in animal husbandry, pigs, at the Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Denmark, a position she has had since 2012.
Vivi received her M.Sc. in Animal Science from The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University in Frederiksberg, Denmark, in 1995, and her PhD in Animal Science at the same University in 2002. Vivi has been focusing on research and development production conditions for farrowing and lactating sows. From 2002 and onwards the emphasis has been on development of systems for loose housed farrowing and lactating sows. The research includes determination of sow and piglets dimensions, space needed for important behaviours and criteria for pen design as well as water accessibility, sows’ nursing capabilities and large litters. The aim of SEGES is to develop, test and recommend the best technologies for production of pigs in Denmark.
As chief scientist, she is involved in assimilation of results to end users and ongoing encouragement to get results to work in practice. In addition, Aarestrup Moustsen has been the author/coauthor of a number of peer review scientific papers, abstracts for international conferences, and is also reviewer for a couple of scientific journals. In addition to her work at SEGES, Aarestrup Moustsen has been honorary associate professor in animal husbandry, pigs, at the Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Denmark, a position she has had since 2012.
Short Abstract
Abundant access to water is of importance for hyper-prolific sows and their progeny
Water is essential to most biological processes within the sow and not the least for milk production as sow milk consists of app. 80% water. It is beyond doubt that the availability of water and for newborn piglets sowmilk is essential to all pigs. Yet, few farmers and advisors are aware of the daily water consumption despite the potential of water consumption at pen level as an online tool for surveillance of hyper prolific farrowing and lactating sows.
In 2023, SEGES recorded water consumption in a sow-herd with dry feed being 17 L/sow on day 1 after farrowing and 28 L/sow on day 18 after farrowing. The observed water consumption was higher than previously reported, which is expected to be related to the fact that sows’ today have greater feed intake and a higher milk production. Sows with low water consumption on day 2 after farrowing continued to have low water consumption for the rest of the lactation period. Correspondingly, sows with high water consumption on day 2 after farrowing continued to have high water consumption for the rest of the lactation period. In addition, an indication of changes in drinking patterns for sows that were subsequently treated with antibiotics was observed.
In 2024, SEGES in collaboration with Aarhus University registers water consumption, farrowing initiation and duration as well as whether water activity registered at pen level can be used as an indicator of sow eating activity.
