Locomotion scores in early gestation of younger parity sows are associated with fight lesions and body condition

Abstract

Lameness in gilts and breeding sows is a major cause of premature removal or culling throughout the Australian pork industry, leading to economic and production losses (Dewey et al.1992; Anil et al. 2005). Although lameness can have many causes, the injuries acquired as a result of negative interactions and aggression between sows can be common in group-housing systems (Heinonen et al. 2013). The aim of this study was to investigate if lameness in gestating sows was associated with sow condition and the negative interactions between sows, such as fighting.