Lameness in piglets

Lameness in suckling piglets is a major problem in farrowing enterprises. Apart from animal suffering, lameness contributes to losses in form of dead piglets, decreased growth, and increased use of antibiotics and manual labour. The present study focused on risks for development of lameness in different housing systems. In the first study, lameness in piglets up to nine of age was studied in a research station herd for four years. 9,411 piglets were born alive, out of which 9.8% were treated for lameness during suckling. Lameness was observed in about every second litter and around 75% of the treatments against lameness were effectuated in piglets less than 3 weeks of age. The incidence risk of lameness decreased from 2.7% during the first week of life to 0.3% after weaning. Litters with 12 or more piglets had a higher incidence of lameness, but no difference between the sexes was seen. In the second study, the implications of skin lesions in young piglets and the protective role of maternal immunity towards development of arthritis was estimated. Skin lesions were present already on day 3. They increased in magnitude until day 10 and thereafter declined. They were generally bilateral and most commonly observed as abrasions over the carpal joints. Hocks, face, abdomen and tails were affected in a similar way, but at lower magnitudes. Sole bruisings were observed in 87% of the piglets at the third day of life, and moderate to severe lesions dominated until day 10. Thereafter the incidence decreased, indicating healing with time. Still, 39% of the piglets were affected at day 17. In the third study, the overall incidence of lameness was decreased and lameness was only diagnosed in every fourth litter in a system with deep litter peat, compared to in every second litter in the systems with solid concrete floor. Still it must be remember that concrete floor system facilitate hygienic measurements in a technical way. Therefore, the influence of floor type and bedding intensity on the incidence and severity of foot and skin lesions and development of arthritis in young piglets was monitored in identical farrowing pens in the fourth study. Floor maintenance decreased the significance of abrasions and sole bruisings, and also reduced the incidence of lameness. Also doubling the amount of chopped straw prevented lameness to some extent