Pluym Liesbet M, Maes Dominiek, Van Weyenberg Stephanie, Van Nuffel Annelies
Technology and Food Sciences Unit, Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Burgemeester Van Gansberghelaan 115 bus 1, Merelbeke 9820, Belgium; Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke 9820, Belgium.
Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke 9820, Belgium.
Vet J. 2017 Feb;220:28-33. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2016.11.008. Epub 2016 Nov 21.
Lameness in sows is an important welfare issue that is affected by housing conditions and is thought to be influenced by hierarchical fights within the first days after mixing sows in groups. A longitudinal study in 15 randomly selected herds was performed to investigate the incidence of sow lameness and possible risk factors within the first days of group housing. Each herd was visited just before and again 3-5 days after the sows were moved to group housing. The floor characteristics and dimensions of the group housing facilities were assessed. Locomotion ability, body condition, skin lesions and degree of faecal soiling were recorded for all sows. Additional information on housing and management was obtained using a questionnaire. Amongst the 810 sows included in the study, the mean lameness incidence was 13.1% (95% confidence interval 10.9-15.6%). Following binomial logistic regression analysis, sows with >10% of the body covered with faeces had an increased risk for development of lameness (odds ratio, OR = 2.33, P = 0.001). An increase in space allowance from 1.7 m to 3.0 m (OR = 0.40, P = 0.03) and of herd size from 144 to 750 sows per herd (OR = 0.71, P = 0.02) decreased the risk of development of lameness. Neither the degree of aggression, indicated by skin lesions, nor the floor characteristics influenced the development of lameness. These results indicate that sows can benefit from a larger floor area.
母猪跛行是一个重要的福利问题，它受饲养条件影响，并且被认为在母猪合群后的头几天内会受到等级争斗的影响。在15个随机选择的猪群中进行了一项纵向研究，以调查母猪圈养头几天内跛行的发生率及可能的风险因素。每个猪群在母猪转入合群饲养前及合群后3至5天再次进行走访。对合群饲养设施的地面特征和尺寸进行了评估。记录了所有母猪的运动能力、身体状况、皮肤损伤和粪便污染程度。通过问卷调查获得了有关饲养和管理的其他信息。在纳入研究的810头母猪中，平均跛行发生率为13.1%（95%置信区间10.9 - 15.6%）。经过二项式逻辑回归分析，身体被粪便覆盖超过10%的母猪发生跛行的风险增加（优势比，OR = 2.33，P = 0.001）。空间 allowance从1.7米增加到3.0米（OR = 0.40，P = 0.03）以及每群猪的数量从144头增加到750头（OR = 0.71，P = 0.02）会降低跛行发生的风险。无论是由皮肤损伤表明的攻击程度，还是地面特征，均未影响跛行的发生。这些结果表明，母猪可以从更大的地面面积中受益。
