Bos E-J, van Riet M M J, Maes D, Millet S, Ampe B, Janssens G P J, Tuyttens F A M
J Anim Sci. 2016 May;94(5):2086-96. doi: 10.2527/jas.2015-0245.
This study evaluated the influence of floor type on sow welfare in terms of lameness, claw lesions, and skin lesions. In a 2 × 3 factorial design, we have investigated the effect of rubber coverings on concrete floors and the effect of 3 levels of dietary zinc supplementation on locomotion and claw and skin lesions in group-housed sows. Six groups of 21 ± 4 hybrid sows were monitored during 3 successive reproductive cycles. The sows were group housed from d 28 after insemination (d 0) until 1 wk before expected farrowing date (d 108) in pens with either exposed concrete floors or concrete floors covered with rubber in part of the lying area and the fully slatted area. During each reproductive cycle, locomotion and skin lesions were assessed 4 times (d 28, 50, 108, and 140) and claw lesions were assessed twice (d 50 and 140). Results are given as least squares means ± SE. Locomotion and claw scores were given in millimeters, on analog scales of 150 and 160 mm, respectively. Here, we report on the effect of floor type, which did not interact with dietary zinc concentration ( > 0.10 for all variables). At move to group (d 28) and mid gestation (d 50), no differences between floor treatments were seen in locomotion ( > 0.10). At the end of gestation (d 108), sows housed on rubber flooring scored 9.9 ± 4.1 mm better on gait ( < 0.001). Regarding claw disorders, both parameters "heel overgrowth and erosion" (difference of 4.6 ± 1.8 mm; = 0.01) and "heel-sole crack" (difference of 3.1 ± 1.5 mm; = 0.04) scores were better for sows on rubber flooring at mid gestation (d 50). However, sows on rubber flooring scored worse for "vertical cracks in the wall horn" (difference of 3.4 ± 1.7 mm; = 0.04). At the end of lactation (d 140), both "white line" (difference of 2.9 ± 1 mm; = 0.02) and "claw length" (difference of 4.7 ± 1.4 mm; < 0.001) had better scores on rubber flooring. No differences for skin lesions were observed between floor treatments. The improved scores for gait toward the end of gestation and some types of claw disorders at mid gestation suggest that rubber flooring in group housing has a beneficial effect on the overall leg health of sows. The documented increase in vertical cracks in the wall horn at d 50 requires further investigation.
本研究从跛行、蹄爪损伤和皮肤损伤方面评估了地面类型对母猪福利的影响。采用2×3析因设计，我们研究了混凝土地面上铺设橡胶覆盖物的效果以及3种日粮锌添加水平对群饲母猪运动能力、蹄爪和皮肤损伤的影响。6组21±4头的杂种母猪在3个连续繁殖周期内接受监测。母猪在人工授精后第28天（第0天）至预计分娩日期前1周（第108天）进行群饲，饲养栏的地面要么是裸露的混凝土地面，要么是在部分躺卧区和全漏缝地板区域铺设了橡胶的混凝土地面。在每个繁殖周期内，分别于第28、50、108和140天对运动能力和皮肤损伤进行4次评估，于第50和140天对蹄爪损伤进行2次评估。结果以最小二乘均值±标准误表示。运动能力和蹄爪评分分别采用150毫米和160毫米的模拟量表，以毫米为单位给出。在此，我们报告地面类型的影响，其与日粮锌浓度无交互作用（所有变量的P>0.10）。在转入群饲时（第28天）和妊娠中期（第50天），不同地面处理组在运动能力方面无差异（P>0.10）。在妊娠末期（第108天），饲养在橡胶地面上的母猪步态评分高9.9±4.1毫米（P<0.001）。关于蹄爪疾病，在妊娠中期（第50天），饲养在橡胶地面上的母猪在“蹄踵过度生长和糜烂”（差异为4.6±1.8毫米；P = 0.01）和“蹄踵-蹄底裂缝”（差异为3.1±1.5毫米；P = 0.04）这两个参数上的评分均更好。然而，饲养在橡胶地面上的母猪在“蹄壁角垂直裂缝”方面评分更差（差异为3.4±1.7毫米；P = 0.04）。在泌乳末期（第140天），饲养在橡胶地面上的母猪在“白线”（差异为2.9±1毫米；P = 0.02）和“蹄爪长度”（差异为4.7±1.4毫米；P<0.001）方面的评分均更好。不同地面处理组在皮肤损伤方面未观察到差异。妊娠末期步态评分的改善以及妊娠中期某些类型蹄爪疾病评分的改善表明，群饲中的橡胶地面有利于母猪的整体腿部健康。第50天记录的蹄壁角垂直裂缝增加情况需要进一步研究。
