Prevalence of lameness and claw lesions during different stages in thereproductive cycle of sows and the impact on reproduction results

Abstract

Lameness in sows is an emerging disease condition with major effects on animal welfare and economics. Yet the direct impact on reproduction results remains unclear. The present field study investigated the impact of lameness and claw lesions throughout the reproductive cycle on (re)production results of sows. In five farms, a total of 491 group-housed sows were followed up for a period of one reproductive cycle. Sows were assessed for lameness every time they were moved to another area in the farm. Claw lesions were scored at the beginning and at the end of the cycle. Reproduction results included the number of live-born piglets, stillborn piglets, mummified fetuses and crushed piglets, weaning-to-oestrus interval and the presence of sows not showing oestrus post weaning, returning to service and aborting. Sows that left the group were recorded and the reason was noted. A mean prevalence of lameness of 5.9% was found, although it depended on the time in the productive cycle. The highest percentage of lame sows (8.1%) was found when sows were moved from the post-weaning to the gestation stable. No significant associations were found between lameness and reproduction parameters with the exception of the effect on mummified foetuses. Wall cracks, white line lesions, heel lesions and skin lesions did have an effect on farrowing performance. Of all sows, 22% left the group throughout the study, and almost half of these sows were removed from the farm. Lameness was the second most important reason for culling. Sows culled because of lameness were significantly younger compared with sows culled for other reasons (parity: 2.6 ± 1.3 v. 4.0 ± 1.8). In conclusion, the present results indicate that lameness mainly affects farm productivity indirectly through its effect on sow longevity, whereas claw lesions directly affect some reproductive parameters. The high percentage of lame sows in the insemination stable indicate that risk factor studies should not only focus on the gestation stable, but also on housing conditions in the insemination stable.

Confinement of sows for different periods during lactation: effects on behaviour and lesions of sows and performance of piglets

“…The fact, that shoulder lesions are a major problem in farrowing crates becomes clear from the present study as well as the study of Bonde et al (2004), who even found a prevalence of 20% in farrowing crates. There is evidence that lesions that occur at different points of the production cycle have negative impacts on the reproductive performance, and thus longevity, of the sows (Pluym et al, 2013). If lesions that are caused by crate fixtures could be minimized by loose-lactating, benefits might outweigh the additional management efforts during periods of loose-housing.…”

Legs and Claws Condition and Lameness in Sows

“…In 23.33% of dry sows severe problems in locomotion were presented (score 1 and 2). In a couple of papers of Pluym et al (2011Pluym et al ( , 2013) data on the average prevalence of lameness about 10% or below this value are provided, but it can reach up to 28%.…”

Associations between claw lesions and reproductive performance of sows in three Greek herds

“…Previous studies reported the association of heel lesions and wall cracks with decreased litter weight, increased pre-weaning piglet mortality and higher odds of stillborn piglets (Fitzgerald et al 2012;Pluym et al 2013). Our results indicate that combinations of lesions on the dorsal and ventral part of the claws, negatively affected the reproduction parameters considered.…”

“…Lameness is an animal-based welfare indicator (Welfare Quality ® consortium 2009) which reduces the productivity of a pig herd by reducing sow longevity and the number of pigs produced per sow per year due to increased involuntary culling rates of sows (Anil et al 2005;Engblom et al 2008). Some claw lesions were also associated with decreased litter weight, increased pre-weaning piglet mortality and higher odds of stillborn and crushed piglets (Fitzgerald et al 2012;Pluym et al 2013).…”