Locomotion Disorders and Skin and Claw Lesions in Gestating Sows Housed in Dynamic versus Static Groups

Abstract

Lameness and lesions to the skin and claws of sows in group housing are commonly occurring indicators of reduced welfare. Typically, these problems are more common in group housing than in individual housing systems. Group management type (dynamic versus static) and stage of gestation influence the behavior of the animals, which in turn influences the occurrence of these problems. The present study compared prevalence, incidence and mean scores of lameness and skin and claw lesions in static versus dynamic group housed sows at different stages of gestation during three consecutive reproductive cycles. A total of 10 Belgian sow herds were monitored; 5 in which dynamic groups and 5 in which static groups were utilized. All sows were visually assessed for lameness and skin lesions three times per cycle and the claws of the hind limbs were assessed once per cycle. Lameness and claw lesions were assessed using visual analogue scales. Static groups, in comparison with dynamic groups, demonstrated lower lameness scores (P<0.05) and decreased skin lesion prevalence (24.9 vs. 47.3%, P<0.05) at the end of gestation. There was no difference between treatment group regarding claw lesion prevalence with 75.5% of sows demonstrating claw lesions regardless of group management. Prevalences of lameness (22.4 vs. 8.9%, P<0.05) and skin lesions (46.6 vs. 4.4%, P<0.05) were highest during the group-housed phase compared to the individually housed phases. Although the prevalence of lameness and skin lesions did not differ three days after grouping versus at the end of the group-housing phase, their incidence peaked during the first three days after moving from the insemination stalls to the group. In conclusion, the first three days after grouping was the most risky period for lameness incidence, but there was no significant difference between static or dynamic group management.

On-Farm Claw Scoring in Sows Using a Novel Mobile Device

“…The order of sows for claw lesion scoring was the same for the sow chute and for the video recordings of the MCSD. For claw lesion scoring, a scoring method adapted and modified from the FeetFirst scoring guide (Zinpro Corp, Eden Prairie, MN, USA) and the “Zeugenklauwen Check” (Wageningen University) was used [9,10,31]. This method represents a tagged visual analogue scale (tVAS) of 160 mm with descriptors on 40, 80, and 120 mm indicating the severity of a claw lesion type, instead of an ordinal scoring scale presented in the literature.…”

“…This method represents a tagged visual analogue scale (tVAS) of 160 mm with descriptors on 40, 80, and 120 mm indicating the severity of a claw lesion type, instead of an ordinal scoring scale presented in the literature. To score the claw for a claw lesion, a vertical bar was drawn on the line and the distance from 0 mm was determined, thus reflecting the severity of a claw lesion (0 mm is completely healthy and 160 mm most deteriorating) [9,10,31]. In this way, the lateral and medial claw digits from both hind claws were scored for the occurrence and severity of three types of claw lesions, namely heel horn erosion, separations along the heel-sole junction, and separations along the white line (Figure 6).…”

“…Almost every sow has one or more claw lesions, depending on type and severity [7,8,9]. As expected, the prevalence of sows with one or more claw lesions is high, varying between 50% and 100% [9,10,11,12,13]. The prevalence may have increased since group housing for gestating sows became mandatory in the European Union (EU) in January 2013.…”

“…The prevalence may have increased since group housing for gestating sows became mandatory in the European Union (EU) in January 2013. This legislation has had a positive impact on welfare and behaviour, but the increased (hierarchical) interactions among sows can lead to falls and slipping, which can damage the legs and claws [7,8,9,10,14]. The prevalence of lameness is lower, estimated at around 10% in Western Europe [15,16,17].…”

“…The most frequently observed claw lesions in sows, varying in severity, are heel horn erosions, defects in the heel horn/sole junction, white line defects, horizontal and vertical wall cracks, claw and dewclaw overgrowth, ulcers, and skin lesions [18,19,20]. Claw lesions have a multifactorial origin, including behaviour, locomotion disorders (5%–20% of cases [1,2,5]), floor type [9,10,21,22,23,24,25,26], nutrition [27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34], and different management systems as predisposing factors. These predisposing factors affect claw quality internally or externally by inducing inflammation, trauma, and/or mechanically inferior horn, resulting in disrupted claw development and integrity that eventually leads to lesions [3].…”