Effect of rubber flooring on group-housed sows' gait and claw and skin lesions1

Bos, Emilie-Julie; Riet, M.M.J. van; Maes, Dominiek; Millet, Sam; Ampe, Bart; Janssens, Geert; Tuyttens, Frank

doi:10.2527/jas.2015-0245

Cited by 10 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…The peak in lameness incidence was found from immediately prior to move to group until three days after moving, irrespective of group management, this in agreement with the results of Bos et al [ 30 ]. Numerically higher incidences were found in dynamic groups.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…When the sows were standing, not all parameters were immediately scored but as soon as the sows lay down, the remaining parameters were scored. Claws were scored using a recording system based on the “ Zeugenklauwen Check ” by Wageningen University Livestock Research [ 47 ] and the ‘FeetFirst’ method by ZinPro [ 48 ], as described in Bos et al [ 30 ]. Eight claw parameters: 1) heel horn, 2) heel/sole crack, 3) white line, 4) skin lesions between the coronary band and the origin of the dewclaw, 5) horizontal cracks in the wall horn, 6) vertical cracks in the wall horn, 7) claw length and 8) dewclaw length were evaluated using a visual guide to the type and severity of the lesions and erosion.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Locomotion Disorders and Skin and Claw Lesions in Gestating Sows Housed in Dynamic versus Static Groups

et al. 2016

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Lameness and lesions to the skin and claws of sows in group housing are commonly occurring indicators of reduced welfare. Typically, these problems are more common in group housing than in individual housing systems. Group management type (dynamic versus static) and stage of gestation influence the behavior of the animals, which in turn influences the occurrence of these problems. The present study compared prevalence, incidence and mean scores of lameness and skin and claw lesions in static versus dynamic group housed sows at different stages of gestation during three consecutive reproductive cycles. A total of 10 Belgian sow herds were monitored; 5 in which dynamic groups and 5 in which static groups were utilized. All sows were visually assessed for lameness and skin lesions three times per cycle and the claws of the hind limbs were assessed once per cycle. Lameness and claw lesions were assessed using visual analogue scales. Static groups, in comparison with dynamic groups, demonstrated lower lameness scores (P<0.05) and decreased skin lesion prevalence (24.9 vs. 47.3%, P<0.05) at the end of gestation. There was no difference between treatment group regarding claw lesion prevalence with 75.5% of sows demonstrating claw lesions regardless of group management. Prevalences of lameness (22.4 vs. 8.9%, P<0.05) and skin lesions (46.6 vs. 4.4%, P<0.05) were highest during the group-housed phase compared to the individually housed phases. Although the prevalence of lameness and skin lesions did not differ three days after grouping versus at the end of the group-housing phase, their incidence peaked during the first three days after moving from the insemination stalls to the group. In conclusion, the first three days after grouping was the most risky period for lameness incidence, but there was no significant difference between static or dynamic group management.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Locomotion Disorders and Skin and Claw Lesions in Gestating Sows Housed in Dynamic versus Static Groups

et al. 2016

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“…Sows housed on rubber slat mats had a significantly reduced risk of becoming lame. Bos et al [34] investigated the effect of a rubber top layer on both the slatted and unslatted areas of the pens’ floor compared to conventional concrete floors on sows’ gait. From four weeks after insemination until one week before parturition, three groups were housed in pens with concrete floors (40.3 m 2 slatted and 31.7 m 2 solid), and three groups in identical pens but with a rubber top layer fitted to all slatted and half the solid floor.…”

Section: Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of group housing of pregnant sows on health

2016

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Group housing of sows during gestation is mandatory in the EU since 2013. Compared to housing in individual crates, group housing allows the animals to express normal activity and behavior. The present paper discusses the impact of group housing on health, with emphasis on lameness, aggression and possible spread of infectious diseases. The prevalence of lameness is generally higher in sows housed in group than in sows housed individually. Floor space per sow, group size, pen design and flooring are the main factors of group housing involved in lameness development. Especially floor characteristics are important, and particular attention should be paid to the type, building material and quality of the floor, hygiene and the use of bedding such as straw or rubber mats. Aggression between sows is another critical issue in group housing systems. It occurs predominantly because of competition for access to a limited resource, or to establish a social hierarchy. Key factors to prevent aggression in group housing include gradual familiarization of unfamiliar animals, sufficient space and pen structure during initial mixing, minimizing opportunities for dominant sows to steal food from subordinates, provision of a good quality floor, environmental enrichment and use of straw bedding. Very scarce evidence-based information is available on the relationship between group housing and infectious disease. Compared to individual housing, sows in group housing have more nose-to-nose contact, and they have more oral contact with feces and urine. These factors could contribute to a higher or faster transmission of pathogens, but so far, there is no evidence showing more disease problems in group housing systems. In conclusion, in group housing systems, particular attention should be paid to prevention of lameness and aggression. Management is crucial but also feeding strategies, floor and bedding, and design of housing are very important as relatively minor adjustments may exert major effects on the animals.

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“…less severe swellings, but also a greater risk of higher scores for hyperkeratosis on the legs and claw lesions, in gilts kept in pens with a slatted concrete floor covered with rubber slat mats compared to pens without such a covering. In a study by Bos et al (2016), sows kept in pens covered with rubber mats in the lying area and a slatted area during gestation scored better for several claw lesions (heel overgrowth and erosion, heel-sole crack, white line), but also worse for the lesion type vertical crack in the wall horn, compared to sows housed in pens with partially slatted concrete floor. It is therefore of interest to know whether rubber flooring also has effects on claw and limb health in finishing pigs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Effect of rubber mats and perforation in the lying area on claw and limb lesions of fattening pigs

Falke

Friedli

Gygax

et al. 2018

Animal

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Claw and leg lesions are frequently observed in finishing pigs and are likely to compromise their welfare. Providing softer than the usual concrete flooring may reduce both the frequency and severity of these lesions. Therefore, this study evaluated the influence of rubber mats and floor perforation in the lying area on claw and leg health of finishing pigs. A total of 240 Swiss Large White finishing pigs from on average 24.9 kg until 102.3 kg were used in four batches, with six groups of 10 animals per batch. The six experimental pens initially measured 1.85×3.55 m and were enlarged after 6 weeks to 1.85×5.25 m. In all pens, one third of the floor space was built as a defecating area consisting of a concrete floor with 15% perforation. The remaining two thirds of the pen were designed as a lying area whose floor quality differed between the pens. It either consisted of concrete elements or was covered with rubber mats, and perforation of both floor types was either 0%, 5% or 10%. All individuals were scored for claw and leg lesions at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the 12-week fattening period. Lesions were summarised in scores based on the results of a principal component analysis. The influence on lesion scores of floor material, amount of perforation in the lying area, assessment time, and sex was examined using mixed-models. The total claw lesion score and the total limb lesion score as well as the claw angle increased from the beginning to the end of the fattening period. The values for both scores were slightly lower for animals kept on rubber mats compared with animals kept on concrete floor. There was no effect of the percentage of perforation on the examined outcome variables. In conclusion, our results indicate that rubber mats in the lying area bring about improvements in some aspects of claw and leg health in fattening pigs, whereas there is no effect of floor perforation.

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Effect of rubber flooring on group-housed sows' gait and claw and skin lesions1

Cited by 10 publications

References 36 publications

Locomotion Disorders and Skin and Claw Lesions in Gestating Sows Housed in Dynamic versus Static Groups

Locomotion Disorders and Skin and Claw Lesions in Gestating Sows Housed in Dynamic versus Static Groups

Impact of group housing of pregnant sows on health

Effect of rubber mats and perforation in the lying area on claw and limb lesions of fattening pigs

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