The Library

A cross sectional study of the prevalence, risk factors and population attributable fractions for limb and body lesions in lactating sows on commercial farms in England

Tools

Kilbride, A. L. (Amy L.), Gillman, Claire E. and Green, Laura E.. (2009) A cross sectional study of the prevalence, risk factors and population attributable fractions for limb and body lesions in lactating sows on commercial farms in England. BMC Veterinary Research, Vol.5 (Article 30). ISSN 1746-6148

PDF
WRAP_Kilbride_Cross-sectional.pdf - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader
Download (265Kb)

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-5-30

Abstract

Background: Lesions on sows' limbs and bodies are an abnormality that might impact on their welfare. The prevalence of and risks for limb and body lesions on lactating sows on commercial English pig farms were investigated using direct observation of the sows and their housing. Results: The prevalence of lesions on the limbs and body were 93% (260/279) and 20% (57/288) respectively. The prevalence of limb and body lesions was significantly lower in outdoor-housed sows compared with indoor-housed sows. Indoor-housed sows had an increased risk of wounds (OR 6.8), calluses (OR 8.8) and capped hock (OR 3.8) on their limbs when housed on fully slatted floors compared with solid concrete floors. In addition, there was an increased risk of bursitis (OR 2.7), capped hock (OR 2.3) and shoulder lesions (OR 4.8) in sows that were unwilling to rise to their feet. There was a decreased risk of shoulder lesions (OR 0.3) and lesions elsewhere on the body (OR 0.2) in sows with more than 20 cm between their tail and the back of the crate compared with sows with less than 10 cm. Conclusion: The sample of outdoor housed sows in this study had the lowest prevalence of limb and body lesions. In lactating sows housed indoors there was a general trend for an increased risk of limb and body lesions in sows housed on slatted floors compared with those housed on solid concrete floors with bedding. Sows that were less responsive to human presence and sows that had the least space to move within their crates had an additional increased risk of lesions.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	S Agriculture > SF Animal culture
Divisions:	Other > Institute of Advanced Study Faculty of Science > Life Sciences (2010- ) > Biological Sciences ( -2010)
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Sows -- Health aspects, Forelimb -- Wounds and injuries, Hindlimb -- Wounds and injuries, Swine -- Housing, Veterinary pathology
Journal or Publication Title:	BMC Veterinary Research
Publisher:	BioMed Central Ltd.
ISSN:	1746-6148
Date:	24 August 2009
Volume:	Vol.5
Number:	Article 30
Identification Number:	10.1186/1746-6148-5-30
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Funder:	Great Britain. Dept. for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
Grant number:	AW0135 (DEFRA)
References:	1. Edwards SA, Lightfoot AL: The effect of floor type in farrowing pens on pig injury II Leg and teat damage in sows. British Veterinary Journal 1986, 142(5):141-145. 2. von Berner H, Hermans W, Papsthard E: Diseases of the hind legs on pigs with regard to bursitis and their relation to the type of floor. Berliner und Munichener Tierarztliche Woschenschrift 1990, 103:51-60. 3. Leeb B, Leeb C, Troxler J, Schuh M: Skin lesions and callosities in group-housed pregnant sows: animal-related welfare indicators. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica - Section A: Animal Science, SUPPL 2001:82-87. 4. Bonde M, Rousing TJ, Badsberg H, Sørensen JT: Associations between lying-down behaviour problems and body condition, limb disorders and skin lesions of lactating sows housed in farrowing crates in commercial sow herds. Livestock Production Science 2004, 87:179-187. 5. Curtis SE, Hurst RJ, Widowski TM, Shanks RD, Jensen AH, Gonyou HW, Bane DP, Muehling AJ, Kesler RP: Effects of sow-crate design on health and performance of sows and piglets. Journal of Animal Science 1989, 67:80-93. 6. Zurbrigg K: Sow shoulder lesions: Risk factors and treatment effects on an Ontario farm. Journal of Animal Science 2006, 84:2509-2514. 7. Knauer M, Stalder KJ, Karriker L, Baas TJ, Johnson C, Serenius T, Layman L, McKean JD: A descriptive survey of lesions from cull sows harvested at two Midwestern U.S. facilities. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 2007, 82:198-212. 8. Karlen GAM, Hemsworth PH, Gonyou HW, Fabrega E, Strom AD, Smits RJ: The welfare of gestating sows in conventional stalls and large groups on deep litter. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2007, 105:87-101. 9. Davies PR, Morrow WEM, Miller DC, Deen J: Epidemiologic study of decubital ulcers in sows. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 1996, 208:1058-1062. 10. Mouttotou N, Hatchell FM, Green LE: Prevalence and risk factors associated with adventitious bursitis in live growing and finishing pigs in south-west England. Preventative Veterinary Medicine 1999, 39:39-52. 11. Dohoo I, Martin W, Stryhn H: Veterinary Epidemiological Research Publisher AVC, Charlottetown; 2003. 12. Main DCJ, Clegg J, Spatz A, Green LE: Repeatability of a lameness scoring system for finishing pigs. The Veterinary Record 2000, 147:547-576. 13. Mouttotou N, Hatchell FM, Green LE: Adventitious bursitis of the hock in finishing pigs: prevalence, distribution and association with floor type and foot lesions. The Veterinary Record 1998, 142:109-114. 14. KilBride AL, Gillman CE, Green LE: A cross-sectional study of the prevalence and associated risk factors for capped hock and the associations with bursitis in weaner, grower and finisher pigs from 93 commercial farms in England. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 2008, 83:272-284. 15. Rasbash J, Browne W, Goldstein H, Yang M, Plewis I, Healy M, Woodhouse G, Draper D, Langford I, Lewis T: A users guide to MLwiN, Version 2.1, Multilevel Models Project. Institute of Education, University of London, UK; 2000. 16. Cox DR, Wermuth N: Multivariate dependencies; models, analysis and interpretation Publisher Chapman and Hall. London; 1996. 17. KilBride AL: An epidemiological study of foot, limb and body lesions and lameness in pigs. University of Warwick, Biological Sciences; 2008. 18. June census data, 2003 [http://www.defra.gov.uk/esg/work_htm/ publications/cs/farmstats_web] 19. Fearne A, Walters R: The costs and benefits of farm assurance to livestock producers in England Final report for Meat and Livestock Commission. Research CfFC: Imperial College London, Wye; 2003. 20. KilBride AL, Gillman CE, Ossent P, Green LE: A cross sectional study of prevalence, risk factors and population attributable fractions for foot and limb lesions in preweaning piglets on commercial farms in England. BMC Vet Res 2009, 5(1):31. 21. Smith WJ: A study of adventitious bursitis of the hock of the pigs. University of Edinburgh; 1993. 22. Davies PR, Morrow WEM, Rountree WG, Miller DC: Epidemiologic evaluation of decubital ulcers in farrowing sows. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 1997, 210:1173-1178. 23. Boyle LA, Leonard FC, Lynch PB, Brophy P: Effect of gestation housing on behaviour and skin lesions of sows in farrowing crates. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2002, 76:119-134. 24. de Koning R: Injuries in confined sows. Incidence and relation with behaviour. Annales de Recherches Veterinaires 1984, 15:205-214.
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/2521