Gait analysis of unprovoked pig gait on clean and fouled concrete surfaces

Abstract

Inadequate floor properties are considered the primary cause of the majority of claw disorders in pigs but to date no clear relationship has been found between claw disorders and floor properties such as friction and surface abrasiveness. To determine this relationship, the factors controlling pig gait must be characterised.This study examined unprovoked pig gait on a concrete floor in clean conditions and compared it with gait in fouled floor conditions. Kinematics were used to record gait parameters such as walking speed, stride length, swing and stance time, stride elevation together with limb support phases, gait symmetry, diagonality and duty factor.On clean floors, pigs had an unprovoked symmetrical gait with alternating two-and three-beat support phases and a high rate of diagonality. Stride length, swing and stance time and stride elevation showed little variation. Pigs altered their gait in accordance with floor conditions to maintain gait control by reducing walking speed, lowering diagonality and employing more three-limb support phases. Pigs also shortened their stride length and prolonged their stance time.

How innate is locomotion in precocial animals? A study on the early development of spatio-temporal gait variables and gait symmetry in piglets

“…Our results indicate that piglet gait can be classified as the 'lateral walk' type, with f-lags and h-lags of around 50% and one p-lag (in this case, left) of more than 50% of the total cycle duration (Abourachid, 2003;Abourachid et al, 2007). This is in accordance with findings for adult pigs (von Wachenfelt et al, 2008).…”

Differential limb loading in miniature pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus): a test of chondral modeling theory

“…Previous studies have examined differences in ground reaction forces (GRFs) between the forelimb and hindlimb in pigs, noting that substrate surface can significantly impact the magnitude of the vertical GRFs (Von Wachenfelt et al, 2009a;Von Wachenfelt et al, 2009b;Von Wachenfelt et al, 2010). As research cited above only examined the effects of walking, it is unknown how the GRF differential is affected by elevated loads during running, as is the case with this study.…”

“…As previous work has demonstrated increased vertical GRFs in the domestic pig forelimb compared with the hindlimb (Thorup et al, 2007;Von Wachenfelt et al, 2009a;Von Wachenfelt et al, 2009b;Von Wachenfelt et al, 2010), we should expect that humeral cartilages will demonstrate increased ECM production, chondrocyte mitosis and hypertrophy compared with femoral cartilages. This study yielded conflicting results in this regard.…”

“…By comparing differences in loaded vs unloaded cohorts in another joint from the same organism, one can better evaluate the general relevance of the predictions of chondral modeling theory. In addition, as prior work has demonstrated that domestic pigs are 'forelimb dominant', experiencing greater vertical reaction forces in the forelimb vs the hindlimb (Thorup et al, 2007;Von Wachenfelt et al, 2009a;Von Wachenfelt et al, 2009b;Von Wachenfelt et al, 2010), comparisons of multiple joints in the same individuals may be informative about the relative magnitude of cartilaginous responses in different joints subjected to the same locomotor regimes. By detailing how multiple joints respond to loading within a given organism, we can enhance our understanding of joint formation and norms of reaction in mammalian limbs.…”

“…Following the expectations of chondral modeling theory, it was hypothesized that an increase in mechanical loading of the proximal humerus would result in chondrocyte hypertrophy and proliferation, with corresponding increases in cartilage height (Frost, 1979;Frost, 1999;Hamrick, 1999;Murray et al, 2001;Carter and Wong, 2003;Plochocki et al, 2009). As pig forelimbs are known to be loaded more heavily than their hindlimbs (Thorup et al, 2007;Von Wachenfelt et al, 2009a;Von Wachenfelt et al, 2009b;Von Wachenfelt et al, 2010), chondral modeling was further examined via cohort-controlled analyses of the proximal humerus and proximal femur. For such comparisons, we predicted that the humerus would exhibit elevated chondrocyte hypertrophy and proliferation as well as greater cartilage height than the femur.…”