Deciphering spatial heterogeneity by multimodal spatial transcriptomics modelling with SpatialModal.

The concepts of sustainability and animal welfare have increasingly shaped animal production systems through both policy and market demands (Mota-Rojas et al. ). Particular attention has been given to strategies that enhance the welfare and health of sows, as these animals not only remain in the herd for extended periods but also have a direct influence on the survivability, viability, and productive performance of their litters (Grimberg-Henrici et al. ). From an animal welfare perspective, the peripartum period represents one of the most critical phases for both sows and piglets. This period is associated with the highest sow mortality rates (Monteiro et al. ) and with substantial piglet losses, largely due to complications during farrowing (Vanderhaeghe et al. ; Langendijk et al. ). Providing enrichment material to prepartal sows has been proposed as a management strategy to reduce stress, improve hormonal and behavioral patterns, and ultimately enhance sow health and productivity (Monteiro et al. , ). Despite the domestication process, sows retain a strong intrinsic motivation to perform nest-building behaviors, including rooting, nosing, and pawing, in the period preceding farrowing (Jensen ; Yun et al. , ; Plush et al. ). The opportunity to express these behaviors has been shown to positively influence farrowing and lactation performance (Yun and Valros ). Nest-building behavior is stimulated not only by endocrine changes but also by external factors, particularly the availability and quantity of enrichment material (Wischner et al. ). Accordingly, studies with pen-housed sows have demonstrated improved outcomes when larger amounts of enrichment material are provided (Yun et al. ).