Lameness in breeding stock is one of the main three reasons for culling in the UK. The main causes of lameness, are arthritis and foot lesions. A major claw lesion can produce lameness from the pain of a deep injury or predispose to infections whichsubsequently cause lameness. Much of the available literature deals with this condition in finishing pigs. However, it is the breeding herd which is the source of the slaughter generation and hence responsible for any genetic predisposition for lameness. The parent generation are also on farms for longer and therefore more lilcely to express the influence of production systems on lameness. Research has been conducted into the causes and incidence of foot lesions in indoor sows for many years, however,outdoor sows have never been investigated in detail. In the last thirty years outdoor farming has increased, and now accounts for around 25 per cent of the national breeding herd. In light of this, a survey was conducted to ascertain the incidence of themain types of foot lesions in indoor and outdoor sows and to investigate the possible causes of these lesions.
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