FIELD-RESEARCH ON VETERINARY PROBLEMS IN GROUP-HOUSED SOWS - A SURVEYOF LAMENESS

Investigations on two experimental farms with group-housing revealed t hat lameness occurred mainly at the hind legs of sows, with a higher i ncidence in first parity sows. The highest incidence of lameness was s een during the first 2 months of gestation and the highest prevalence in the last 2 months of gestation. No relation could be established be tween lameness of a sow in the last month of gestation and reproductio n results. The incidence of claw lesions increased too, during the gro up-housing during pregnancy and was higher compared to sows kept in cr ates. This increase was clearest in first parity sows. In addition the observations suggest a pattern in the course of development of lesion s. Claw lesions mainly occur on the outer claws of a sow. For two type s of lesions left-right symmetry has been established for both the hin d and the front legs. On the level of the individual animal there was no relation between the incidence of claw lesions and lameness.