HEAL ▶▶▶TH
Fewer lameness- related sow losses in nine steps
Lameness is one of the major reasons for culling breeding stock. There are many methods which, used together, can help keep sows in better shape for longer. Here are nine aspects to consider to make sure lameness can be avoided for as long as possible.
BY SAMANEH AZARPAJOUH, INDEPENDENT RESEARCHER, USA L
www.pigprogress.net/ worldofpigs
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ameness is one of the most common reasons for premature culling of sows after reproductive failure. Lameness compromises sow welfare productivity and longevity and reduces sow herd efficiency and prof-
itability. Almost 50% of sow culling due to lameness occurs in the developing gilt phase and first parity sows, which re- sults in high replacement costs and lower number of piglets produced per sow lifetime. Therefore, timely identification of lameness is critical to minimise lameness and to reduce overall production costs. Lameness is defined as a deviation from the normal gait caused by lesions, diseases and other factors such as genet- ics, nutrition, housing systems and management practices. However, the term lameness is used for a broad range of conditions, including feet and leg problems, conformational deficiencies, lameness, unsoundness, injuries and abscess- es on the limbs. It is estimated that up to 48% of sows on a given farm are lame, and lameness costs approximately $ 230 million/year to the US swine industry. Thus, to prevent financial losses and welfare problems, preventive measures are required to minimise lameness occurrence.
▶ PIG PROGRESS | Volume 38, No. 3, 2022 1 2 3
Tailor-made feed for breeding stock Genetic improvements have increased sow produc- tivity, which in turn causes more stress in sows. Car- rying more piglets puts more pressure on a sow’s
skeletal system, and greater mobilisation of calcium, phos- phorus and other minerals from the bones to the blood- stream is required to support milk production. Therefore, a tailored feeding programme needs to be applied based on controlling feed intake and daily gain while optimising gilt nutrition to ensure the building of a strong skeletal system.
Genetics with structural soundness Preventing lameness starts with selecting replace- ment gilts with feet and leg soundness and integri- ty. Good structural conformation allows females to
better compete in group housing situations and enhances sow herd retention. Furthermore, offspring from replacement gilts with proper feet and leg conformation will result in a greater percentage of full-value market hogs sold during the grow-finish phase. However, training individuals to select replacement gilts accurately can be challenging.
Decent flooring to reduce injuries Ascending infection caused by damage to the foot and hoof is a leading cause of sow lameness. Sow barns built for gestation stalls have a wide slat gap,
and when the barns convert to group housing the gap is wide enough for a sow to get her toes stuck and damage her hoof. In addition, good flooring is essential to prevent injury at all stages of production. Therefore, refraining from mixing ani- mals on the poor-quality flooring, replacing inappropriate
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