Lameness in sows is a painful and common condition, affecting between 30- 60% of sows, according to recent data. The stress and the pain experienced by lame sows causes unfavorable scenarios not only for pregnant animals, but also for their offspring, possibly due to glucocorticoid-mediated effects on fetal programming. The objectives of this study are to assess the behavioral, emotional and physiological effects of sow lameness in their offspring. This study was carried out in a Brazilian commercial pig farm, studying sows and piglets, with follow up experiments performed, with the same piglets, at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. The protocol was reviewed by the Ethics and Animal Use Committee (protocol number 9870211117). Gait score was assessed in 582 pregnant sows, every 15 days, over a period of 4 months, using a validated scoring system (0 to 5, being 0 a sow without lameness and 5 a sow with severe lameness). Out of the 582 sows, 30 animals, 15 sows without lameness (group A: score 0 or 1) and 15 sows with lameness (group B: score 3 to 5), were selected, for the follow up study monitoring their offspring. From each of these sows, three piglets were studied (90 piglets in total). Piglets were weaned at 28 days, transported to the University Campus, housed in pens with 9 individuals, divided in groups by sex, weight and lameness score of their mother (A or B). The following data were obtained from the piglets: body photographs to count skin lesions (three days); behavior in the open field and novel object tests were performed three days after weaning, and nociception measures were taken with an electronic von Frey aesthesiometer in four body parts: left and right plantar pad (LPP and RPP); and left and right leg (LL and RL). Data were analyzed using t-test or the Wilcoxon test at a significance level of 0.05 in the programming language R. 91.41% of the 582 sows had at least one event of lameness, 37.46% were classified as Group A, and 62.54% scored as group B. Sows with lameness had fewer days of pregnancy than sows without lameness (P<0.0005), 115 and 116 days respectively. Piglets from lame sows vocalized more than piglets from sows without lameness when they were subjected to the novel object test. Piglets from lame sows responded numerically to higher pressures in all body parts in the nociception test than piglets born from sows without lameness. This was confirmed by the means values: group A-LPP=893.44 g; group B-LPP=1,007.26 g; group A-RPP=916.28 g; group B-RPP=997.11 g; group A-LL=896.35 g; group B-LL=981.99 g; group A-RL=961.58 g; group B-RL=974.12 g; (P>0.05). Lameness appeared to modify the nociceptive threshold of the offspring, suggesting an increase in pain tolerance of piglets from lame sows. Additionally, lameness in sows decreased pregnancy length. The results confirm the impact of lameness in altering behavior and welfare outcomes in piglets.
Lameness in sows during pregnancy impacts welfare outcomes in their offspring
PARADA SARMIENTO, MARISOL;
2019-01-01
Abstract
Lameness in sows is a painful and common condition, affecting between 30- 60% of sows, according to recent data. The stress and the pain experienced by lame sows causes unfavorable scenarios not only for pregnant animals, but also for their offspring, possibly due to glucocorticoid-mediated effects on fetal programming. The objectives of this study are to assess the behavioral, emotional and physiological effects of sow lameness in their offspring. This study was carried out in a Brazilian commercial pig farm, studying sows and piglets, with follow up experiments performed, with the same piglets, at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. The protocol was reviewed by the Ethics and Animal Use Committee (protocol number 9870211117). Gait score was assessed in 582 pregnant sows, every 15 days, over a period of 4 months, using a validated scoring system (0 to 5, being 0 a sow without lameness and 5 a sow with severe lameness). Out of the 582 sows, 30 animals, 15 sows without lameness (group A: score 0 or 1) and 15 sows with lameness (group B: score 3 to 5), were selected, for the follow up study monitoring their offspring. From each of these sows, three piglets were studied (90 piglets in total). Piglets were weaned at 28 days, transported to the University Campus, housed in pens with 9 individuals, divided in groups by sex, weight and lameness score of their mother (A or B). The following data were obtained from the piglets: body photographs to count skin lesions (three days); behavior in the open field and novel object tests were performed three days after weaning, and nociception measures were taken with an electronic von Frey aesthesiometer in four body parts: left and right plantar pad (LPP and RPP); and left and right leg (LL and RL). Data were analyzed using t-test or the Wilcoxon test at a significance level of 0.05 in the programming language R. 91.41% of the 582 sows had at least one event of lameness, 37.46% were classified as Group A, and 62.54% scored as group B. Sows with lameness had fewer days of pregnancy than sows without lameness (P<0.0005), 115 and 116 days respectively. Piglets from lame sows vocalized more than piglets from sows without lameness when they were subjected to the novel object test. Piglets from lame sows responded numerically to higher pressures in all body parts in the nociception test than piglets born from sows without lameness. This was confirmed by the means values: group A-LPP=893.44 g; group B-LPP=1,007.26 g; group A-RPP=916.28 g; group B-RPP=997.11 g; group A-LL=896.35 g; group B-LL=981.99 g; group A-RL=961.58 g; group B-RL=974.12 g; (P>0.05). Lameness appeared to modify the nociceptive threshold of the offspring, suggesting an increase in pain tolerance of piglets from lame sows. Additionally, lameness in sows decreased pregnancy length. The results confirm the impact of lameness in altering behavior and welfare outcomes in piglets.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
