Using objective mechanical and physiological measurements to build robust producer tools for detecting, scoring and treating lameness in sows
Study funded by the Pork Checkoff of the National Pork Board
L. A. Karriker *, K. J. Stalder *, R. F. Fitzgerald *, H. Coetzee# and A. K. Johnson *
Please click on the topic of interest below to go directly to that section or scroll through to view entire study.
| Study Objectives | Materials & Methods | Treatments |
| Protocol | Results | Conclusion |
| References |
Study Objectives
- A robust observational lameness scoring system which will allow earlier and more reliable management decisions to be made about lame sows,
- An assessment of the value of sodium salicylate and flunixin meglumine as pain treatments in cases of lameness
- An objective measuring tool; the “sow lameness detection system” which will be validated as an objective assessment tool for sow lameness
- A library of visual products including video and still photos with corresponding objective measurements that will be available to train and test farm employees on validated sow lameness assessments
Material and Methods
- 24 clinically normal, mixed breed sows
- Sows are acclimated for 7 days
- Each trial replication lasts for 21 days
Treatments
Parameters collected during acclimation and trial period
- physiologic parameters are collected in the animal’s home pen
- Blood sample collected on days 1, 3, 14, 17, and 21
- plasma is collected for substance P and its key metabolites; this is conducted at Kansas State University
- serum is collected for a cortisol assay
Anesthesia
- Sows restrained using humane pig snare in a standing position
- Agents used
- Xylazine (4.4 mg/kg) IM
- Ketamine HCl (2.2 mg/kg) IM
- Tiletamine HCl (4.4 mg/kg) IM
- Sow placed in lateral recumbancy
Inducement of Lameness
- Preparation of Clean Field for Injection
- assigned toes are washed with mild soap and water to remove fecal contamination
- injection site is scrubbed with iodine based scrub for 3 minutes
- site is rinsed with 70% isopropyl alcohol
- foot placed on clean plastic sheet
- Injection of foot
- Agent used: amphotericin B (10 mg; 1 mL volume)
- Medial and lateral toe injected on the scrubbed foot
- Dorsal injection into the distal interdigital space at a depth of 5 mm
- Post-anesthetic monitoring
- vital parameters collected every 15 minutes
- respiration rate
- rectal temperature
- capillary refill time
- observe until sow fully recovers from anesthesia (determined to be when sow returns to standing)
- vital parameters collected every 15 minutes
Antibiotic treatment of lameness
- Sows are randomly assigned treatment groups prior to study commencement
- Sows are divided – 2 sows per treatment group
- receive treatment with sodium salicylate per label
- receive treatment with flunixin meglumine per label
- receive no treatment (pilot study shows lameness will resolve in approximately 1 week with no treatment)
Protocol
| Day of study | Process |
| Day 0* | Anesthesia and Inducemnent of lameness |
| Day 1 | Sow observed for lameness in injected limb; characterized using a 5 point scale adapted from Crawford et al. (1991) |
| Days 1-7 | Sow receives treated (as previously determined); Collection of data using the Static Force plate, Gait force, and walking track |
| Days 8-13 | Sow allowed to re-acclimate |
| Day 14 | Each sow will repeat process with the opposite leg (repeat anesthesia and inducement of lameness) |
| Days 15-21 | Sow receives treated (as previously determined); Collection of data using the Static Force plate, Gait force, and walking track |
| Day 21 |
*Sows allowed to acclimate for 7 days prior to study commencement
Results
Coming soon
Conclusions
Coming soon
References
Coming soon
Objective assessment tools and pain management for lame sows
Study funded by the Pork Checkoff of the Iowa Pork Producers Association
L. A. Karriker *, K.J. Stalder *, R.F. Fitzgerald *, H. Coetzee#, A. K. Johnson*
*Iowa State University #Kansas State University
Please click on the topic of interest below to go directly to that section or scroll through to view entire study.
Study Objectives
-
Objectives coming soon.
Material and Methods
-
Coming Soon
Treatments
Parameters collected during study
- Behavior
- Physiology
- Performance
- GaitFour Data
- Sow lameness detection system
Protocol
Coming Soon
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Day of study |
Process |
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Day |
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Day |
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Results
Preliminary relevant findings so far
- With equivalent induction of synovitis, sows alter behavior to different degrees when the front or rear feet are lame
- Significant differences exist in the rate sows eat, even when alone
- Feeder placement alters forces on the front legs
- Sodium salicylate half-life is very short necessitating frequent oral dosage in a single day
Conclusions
Will be posted in the future
References
Will be posted in the future