When redesigning a farm, sow lameness should be kept in mind.
slat gaps, providing solid footing for mixing – preferably bed- ded, and moving sows to the gestation pen two to three days later can reduce injuries occurring with group-housed sows.
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Consistent observation of sows Knowledge of lameness extent within a herd is the first step to understand the problem and develop a solution. Therefore, on-farm monitoring of sows is
essential for timely detection of lameness before the problem progresses or the infection spreads deeper into the tissue and joints and becomes unresolvable. Sows tend to hide or man- age to survive with lameness for some time until it becomes severe. Consistent observation of sows should be a regular management routine to detect locomotion problems as they develop. Observing sows moving from gestation into farrow- ing or from farrowing into breeding is an opportunity to de- tect locomotion problems. Close observation of sows after mixing should be performed to ensure no lameness has de- veloped from injuries after fighting. Advancement in preci- sion technology will enable swine producers to monitor sows in real time to identify lameness.
Proactive treatment Determining the most common causes of lameness, characterising symptoms and providing tailored treatments may help alleviate sow losses due to
lameness. In some cases, providing lame sows with two doses of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, a rubber mat and cor- rective hoof trimming to restore hoof conformation at eight weeks gestation reduces the number of sows showing lameness and the severity of lameness.
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Tracking where lameness is most found Flooring areas around cool cells are more likely to provide slippery conditions. Additionally, in areas
where access panels exist over manure valves and other equipment, sharp corners can injure the hoof. It is recom- mended to focus on the areas where lameness occurs more frequently and fix any issue found.
Paying attention to sows with ex- treme condition Over-conditioning is associated with heel bruises, and under-conditioning is associated with other
hoof lesions and shoulder sores. However, it is unknown whether under-conditioning leads to nutritional compromise of the hoof or rather hoof lesions reduce feed intake. It is suggested to focus more on a subset of sows.
Corrective trimming Corrective trimming may be useful to correct hoof length and toe angle to reduce the excess tension or compression between the hoof horn and the
bone underneath, so that blood supply is uncompromised. Hoof trimming requires restraint of the animal, and various crates are used to lift the sow for inspection while allow- ing the feet to hang through the bottom of the crate for trimming.
Altering sow environment Another approach to prevent lameness is to change the environment to improve sow comfort. Rubber mat placement decreases the risk of lameness de-
veloping and encourages sows to stand up more frequently and lie down more often. However, it is unknown if using a rubber mat reduces lameness severity in previously identified lame sows.
Conclusion Reducing sow lameness requires a multifaceted approach. It is important to keep lameness at a manageable level and maintain normal removal rates. Furthermore, it is essential to motivate farm crew and empower them to influence this is- sue and reduce the number of sows identified as lame. Lame- ness is a multifactorial condition, and it is challenging to de- termine the cause for each case; therefore, it is difficult to find the proper treatment method. Moreover, further research is needed to explore alternatives to improve sow comfort, to re- duce lameness, to enhance overall productivity and welfare and to increase farm profitability over the coming years.
▶ PIG PROGRESS | Volume 38, No. 3, 2022 21
PHOTO: PENN COMMUNICATIE
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