Treatment and prevention of lameness with special emphasis on claw disorders in group-housed sows

Pluym, Liesbet; Nuffel, Annelies Van; Maes, Dominiek

doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2013.06.008

Cited by 35 publications

(43 citation statements)

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“…This phenomenon can have Repeatability of three gait-scoring scales for sows negative implications for animal welfare, especially when sows with slight gait abnormalities are missed or routinely classified as 'non-lame'. In fact, sows that are at the early stages of lameness are the ones that can most benefit from timely veterinary treatment (Pluym et al, 2013). The majority of participating students indicated the tVAS as the most challenging scale to learn; however, these perceptions had no effect on repeatabilities and correlations with experts' scores.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Lameness has a considerably negative impact on the welfare and productivity of sows (Heinonen et al, 2013;Pluym et al, 2013) and has been included as a welfare indicator in farm assurance schemes (Global Animal Partnership, 2009;Welfare Quality ® , 2009; Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 2012). Recent studies estimated the prevalence of sow lameness between 8.8% and 16.9% in the European Union (Heinonen et al, 2006;KilBride et al, 2009;Heinonen et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparison of the inter- and intra-observer repeatability of three gait-scoring scales for sows

Nalon

Maes

Dongen³

et al. 2014

Animal

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Most gait-scoring scales for pigs have a limited number of categories, supposedly to improve repeatability. However, reducing the number of categories could lead to loss of information if the observers' discriminative capacities are underused. With a recently estimated withinherd prevalence of sow lameness of 8.8% to 16.9% in the European Union and the associated losses, the availability of reliable tools for the timely detection of initial cases warrants attention. This study investigated the intra-and inter-observer repeatability (intra-OR and inter-OR) of three gait-scoring scales for sows: a continuous 'tagged' visual analogue scale (tVAS, measured in mm), a 5-point and a 2-point ordinal scale (5P and 2P), all with the same descriptors. Veterinary medicine students (n = 108) were trained to use the scales and then asked to score 90 videos (30 per scale) of sows with normal and abnormal gait. Thirty-six videos were shown once and 18 were randomly shown three times, of which one mirrored horizontally. The students' opinions on the scales were also collected. Intra-and inter-OR were higher with the tVAS than the 2P scale (inter-OR: 0.73 v. 0.60; P < 0.05. Intra-OR: 0.80 v. 0.67; P < 0.05). Intra-OR was higher with the 5P (0.81) than the 2P scale (0.67; P < 0.05). For all three scales, repeatabilities were lower ( P < 0.05) for non-lame sows (gait score of ⩽45 mm on the tVAS) than for sows showing some signs of lameness (gait score > 45 mm). Video order (first 45 v. last 45 clips), mirroring, users' opinions on the scales, and previous declared experience in handling pigs or scoring lameness in other species had no effect on repeatabilities. Correlations between the students' and experts' scores were high (tVAS = 0.92; 5P = 0.91; 2P = 0.88) but the association for the 2P was not linear and the frequency distribution showed lower correlations for a group of students. This study confirms recent evidence that it is possible to design high-resolution gait-scoring scales that do not reduce observer repeatability. Visual gait-scoring scales with fewer than five categories are likely to entail loss of information on lameness in individual sows.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of the inter- and intra-observer repeatability of three gait-scoring scales for sows

Nalon

Maes

Dongen³

et al. 2014

Animal

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“…Previous studies have reported on the effect of flooring and management on the frequency and severity of hoof lesions of sows [30–32]. There are, however, sparse reports on the effect of nutrition on sow hoof lesions [17, 33, 34], with the exception of biotin supplementation [35, 36].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of diet supplementation with chelated zinc, copper and manganese on hoof lesions of loose housed sows

2016

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BackgroundHoof lesions are very common among sows and have been associated with lameness, early removal and compromised welfare and productivity. Although housing conditions and management can have an external effect on hoof health status, the role of trace mineral intake is vital in developing hoof structure and integrity. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a diet supplemented with organic complexes of trace minerals (Zn, Cu, Mn), partly substituting their inorganic form, on hoof lesions of sows in three Greek swine herds.ResultsA total of 518 sows were initially examined for hoof lesions and their respective severity was scored. For each hoof, the length of toes and dew claws were evaluated and five anatomical hoof sites, the heel, the sole, the white line, the wall and the coronary band, were examined for lesions. Subsequently, the same sows were re-scored after one or two gestations on diets supplemented with organic trace minerals, partly substituting their inorganic salt form (organic form of Zn 45 ppm, Cu 14 ppm and Mn 25 ppm of the total 125 ppm of Zn, 15 ppm of Cu and 40 ppm of Mn, respectively). The odds of the higher versus the lower lesion scores were significantly lower after than before the inclusion of the organic minerals in sows’ diet, for each of the considered foot sites with the exception of the coronary band, with a distinct effect according to foot location. Specifically, on rear feet the improvement of hoof lesions was either smaller (for heel, sole and wall) than on front feet or not significant (for white line, toe and dew claw length). Additionally, for each foot site and herd examined, after the inclusion of the organic minerals, there were more sows with either the same or lower lesion score, with the exception of the toe and the dew claw length in one of the herds.ConclusionsWithin the specific conditions in the three studied herds, our findings highlight the role of chelated trace minerals in sows’ hoof health, suggesting an applicable and rewarding intervention to prevent hoof lesions.

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“…Lameness assessment can be based on gait analyses, postural behavior or weight distribution [41][42]. Gait and locomotion evaluation for gilts and sows is measured by visual appraisal, as a subjective method, and electronic or automatic detection systems, as an objective method.…”

Section: General Approaches For Lameness Detectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lameness: a principle problem to sow longevity in breeding herds.

Supakorn¹,

Stock²,

Garay³

et al. 2018

CABI Reviews

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The objective of this article is to review causes of lameness lesions, lameness detection methods, factors affecting lameness, association between lameness and other economically important swine production traits, and treatment for lameness in swine breeding herds. Lameness in sows is an important welfare and economic challenge to pig producers. It has been reported to be the second most common reason for involuntary culling of sows which directly impacts sow longevity / sow productive lifetime. Factors affecting the prevalence and severity of gilt and sow lameness breeding herd are housing type, flooring type, toes / dewclaws management, genetic effect for feet and leg conformation, and nutrition especially mineral supplements. Sow preference and behavioral response to flooring type may be likewise be affected by lameness onset, duration, severity and location. To avoid unnecessary distress and associated financial losses, early treatment of lameness observed among the females in the gilt development unit and in the breeding herd is necessary. The key factors listed previously are the foundation to a proper prevalence strategy. However, this review shows that additional research is still needed, especially studies to accurately evaluate lameness lesions, examine nutrient requirements for optimum foot health, investigate genetic effects on feet and leg conformation, clearly define the supplemental vitamin or / and mineral levels and duration for usage. All of these factors may influence breeding herd lameness and may contribute to more consistent and comparable results from sow herd.

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Treatment and prevention of lameness with special emphasis on claw disorders in group-housed sows

Cited by 35 publications

References 68 publications

Comparison of the inter- and intra-observer repeatability of three gait-scoring scales for sows

Comparison of the inter- and intra-observer repeatability of three gait-scoring scales for sows

Effect of diet supplementation with chelated zinc, copper and manganese on hoof lesions of loose housed sows

Lameness: a principle problem to sow longevity in breeding herds.

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