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Osteochondrosis / Osteoarthrosis and Claw Disorders in Sows, Associated with Leg Weakness

Osteochondrose/ osteoartrose og klovlidelser i søer, sammenhæng med bensvaghed

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 41, pages 123–138 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between different leg weakness symptoms and osteochondrosis/osteoarthrosis and claw disorders in sows together with the influence of age on these findings. One hundred and seventeen sows in one herd were followed from 6 months of age until culling and judged for leg weakness once in every gestation using a scale from 1 (normal) to 4 (severe changes). At slaughter changes in joints, growth plates and claws were scored on a scale from 1 (normal) to 5 (very severe changes). Osteoarthrotic changes were strongly associated with osteochondral changes in humeral and femoral condyles. The clinical signs of osteochondrosis and osteoarthrosis were found to be: buck-kneed forelegs, turn out of fore and hind legs, upright pasterns on hind legs, stiff locomotion, lameness and tendency to slip. The clinical signs of claw lesions were found to be: buck-kneed forelegs, upright pasterns, steep hock joints, turn out of hind legs, standing under position on hind legs, stiff movements, swaying hindquarters, goose-stepping hind legs, tendency to slip and lameness. Overgrown claws were strongly associated with leg weakness indicating the need for claw trimming in sow populations.

Sammendrag

Formålet med undersøgelsen var at undersøge sammenhængen mellem forskellige bensvaghedssymptomer og osteochondrose/osteoartrose og klovlidelser i søer tillige med indflydelsen af alder på disse egenskaber. 117 søer fulgtes fra 6 måneders alderen indtil udsættelse og bedømtes for bensvaghedssymptomer én gang i hver drægtighed på en skala fra 1 (normal) til 4 (svære forandringer). Ved slagtning blev forandringer i led, vækstzoner og klove registreret på en skala fra 1 (normal) til 5 (meget svære forandringer). Osteartrotiske forandringer var stærkt associeret med osteochondrotiske forandringer i humerus og femur kondyler. De kliniske symptomer for Osteochondrose og osteoartrose fandtes at være: krumme forben, udaddrejede ben, stejle koder på bagben, stive bevægelser, halthed og udskridningstendens (kun for læsioner i tuber ischii vækstzonen). De kliniske symptomer for klovlidelser var: krumme forben, stejle koder og haser, udaddrejede bagben, understillede bagben, stive bevægelser, svingende bagpart, paradeskridt, udskridningstendens og halthed. Forvoksede klove var stærkt associeret med bensvaghed, hvilket taler for at anvende klovbeskæring i sopopulationen.

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  1. Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Research Centre Foulum, P.O. Box 50, DK-8830, Tjele, Denmark

    B. Jørgensen

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Jørgensen, B. Osteochondrosis / Osteoarthrosis and Claw Disorders in Sows, Associated with Leg Weakness. Acta Vet Scand 41, 123–138 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03549644

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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147