EFFECT OF FLOOR TYPE ON THE SEVERITY OF FOOT LESIONS AND OSTEOCHONDROSIS IN SWINE

Abstract

Sixty-seven pigs were weaned at 5 wk of age and assigned to pens with either plastic-coated expanded metal or woven-wire floorings. The feet of each pig were examined at weaning and at the end of a 28-d starter period for soundness. Eleven gilts which had been on plastic-coated flooring and 12 gilts which had been on woven-wire flooring were moved at the end of the starter period to 1.2 × 1.2-m pens with the same floor types. These pigs were fed ad libitum until slaughter at 94 kg bodyweight. At weaning, the incidence of foot lesions was only 7%. Floor type did not have any significant (P > 0.05) effect on average daily gain, average daily feed intake or feed:gain ratios of pigs during the starter (8–22 kg), grower (22–55 kg) or finisher (55–94 kg) periods. Foot lesions were most severe (P < 0.01) in starter pigs which were penned on woven-wire flooring. There was also a tendency (P < 0.06) towards more severe hind-toe lesions in 94-kg gilts which were penned on woven-wire flooring. In general, the lateral digits of the feet of these gilts had more severe lesions (P < 0.01) than the medial digits. The severity of osteochondrosis of the condyles of the femur and humerus, of the articular cartilage of the proximal ulna and radius and of the distal ulnar physis were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by floor type. The influence of floor type on the locomotory system appeared therefore to be confined to local foot abrasions and did not extend to the knee and elbow joints. Key words: Swine, floor, foot, lesion, osteochondrosis