[Incidence of various disorders in fattening pigs and their effects on growth and carcass quality].

Findings in 6,304 fattening pigs at the experimental piggery 'Zuid-West Nederland' in Sterksel were used to study the incidence of tail-biting, leg disorders, cough and diarrhoea. The majority of animals were fed ad libitum and housed on completely or partially slatted floors. Approximately 20 per cent of the animals were treated for various conditions. The appearance of these conditions was associated with a decrease in rate of gain of 10-67 g day-1 animal-1. Carcass grading was also reduced in the animals, which had been treated for affections. Tail-biting and diarrhoea were the two most common conditions. The majority of conditions occurred mainly during the first eighty days of the fattening period. However, a higher relative proportion of animals were treated for cough during the last fourty days of the fattening period. Leg-disorders affected the rate of gain more than did the other conditions. The rate of gain was reduced by 67 g day-1 animal-1 and carcass grading by 11 per cent. The conditions were associated with considerable loss in production traits (gain and carcass grading).