Identification of the Range of Hock Angles in Lame and Non-lame Replacement Gilt

Hock angle ranges were measured in Yorkshire gilts from the 10th generation of gilts divergently selected for residual feed intake (RFI) at Iowa State University. Fifty-five gilts (low RFI n= 26 and high RFI n= 29) were included in the study. Digital profile images were taken from each gilt and hock angles were measured while the gilt’s leg was positioned forward, standing squarely, and backwards. Angles were calculated by tracing the front and back of the joint between the fibula/tibia and tarsals, with the anterior and posterior positions acting as the anchor. Additionally, gilts were classified as lame or non-lame according to their gait. Differences for hock angulation were found between RFI lines. Gilts in the low RFI line had wider hock angles while their leg was in the rear position than the high RFI but there was no difference in the front or standing positon. There was no difference in hock angles between lame and non- lame sows. However, when hock angles from lame and non-lame legs within each gilt were compared, lame legs had wider hock angles while standing and while flexing legs backwards when compared with the sound leg. Results indicate that there is a measureable difference in hock angulation between RFI lines and between lame and non-lame legs. Biological importance of such differences requires further research. These data indicate that there are differences in the angle to the hock, and lameness does play a part in those differences. This could indicate that the hock needs to be included as a tool for selection of animals with regards to longevity.needs to be included as a tool for selection of animals with regards to longevity

Depiction of Lying Down and Standing up Sequences in Multiparous Sows

The objective of this study was tocreatea pictorial lying down-standing up sequence depiction in multiparous sows.Eighty-five multiparous sows were moved from their home stallto a testingstall where they were video recorded for one lying down–standing up event on 30, 60 and 90 days of gestation. The digital video camera was positioned on the adjacent stall so the sows’ profile was visible while recording. Observations ceased when the sow successfully lied down or if 2.5 hours elapsed since recording began. Normal standing and lying pictorial depictions were created, and deviations fromthenormal lying down and standing up sequences were also pictorially depicted. This is the first published pictorial depictions on mulitparous sows on the standing-lying-standing sequence

Changes in Feet and Leg Joint Angles in Gilts Divergently Selected for Residual Feed Intake during their First Gestation

This study attempted to characterize any potential changes in feet and leg characteristics due togestation stage, genetic line difference or lameness status during the gilt’s first gestation.Joint angles for knee, hock, front and rear pastern were measured in 40 Yorkshire gilts divergently selected for residual feed intake (RFI) on days 30, 60 and 90 of gestation. On the same days, gilts were scored for walking lameness (i.e. lame ornon-lame) Significant differences (P \u3c 0.05) between gestation dayand lameness status were identified in the knee and both pasterns. Significant differences (P \u3c 0.05) in RFI line were also observed in both pasterns. These measurements suggest that as gestationprogresses, structural changesoccur. Similarly, differences between RFI linesmay be due to some underlying genetic effect that has not previously been identified. In this study, lame sows were also observed to have greater joint angles for the knee, front and rear pasterns; however, such differences were minimal and their biological relevance is unclear

Time Taken for Lame and Non-lame Sows to Stand and Lie

This study aimed to characterize the postures and movements of the lying down sequence in multiparous sows,and to identify possible differences between lame and non-lamesows. Eighty-five multiparous sows were moved from their gestation housingto a gestation stall where they were video recorded for one lying down–standing up event on days 30, 60 and 90 of gestation. The digital video camera was positioned on the adjacent stall so the sows’ profile was visible while recording. Observations ceasedwhen the sow successfully lied down and stood up or if 2.5 hours elapsed since recording began. Prior to recording, sows were scored for lameness on a 3-point scale, (1 = normal to 3 =severely lame).From thevideo,postures and movements that occurred during the lying-standing sequence were identified. Lameness was not associated with any of the traits studied. However, a tendency to spend less time standing was observed in lame sows suggesting that lameness recorded in thisstudy was notsevere enough to affect the sequence

Dynamic space utilization for lame and non-lame gestating sows estimated by the lying-standing sequence

peer-reviewedThe objective of this study was to estimate the dynamic space utilization for lame and non-lame sows using their lying-standing postural sequence profile. Eighty-five sows (parity 0.9 ± 1.14; range 0 to 4) were used. Sows were moved to a pen on 30, 60 and 90 days of gestation and a ceiling mounted camera was installed above the pen to record one lying-standing event per sow. Observations ceased when the sow lied and stood, or 2.5 h elapsed from recording commencement. Additionally, each sow was evaluated for walking lameness while moving from their gestation stall to the pen. Still frames were captured from the sows’ lying and standing sequences and were combined into a single image and measured by counting pixels from contouring the sows’ body (CONTOUR), overlaying a grid on the sow image and counting any square including any part of the sow (FULL-GRID) and only counting any square that was half full or more (HALF-GRID). The space utilized while turning around was calculated by measuring the sows’ length from snout to the base of the tail and using that length as the diameter of a circle (D-PIVOT), or as the radius of a circle (R-PIVOT). Parity was re-classified as 0, 1, and 2+. There were no observed differences in the dynamic space utilized to lie, stand or turn around between lame and non-lame sows (P > 0.05). On average, sows used 1.2 ± 0.47 m2 to lie and 1.3 ± 0.46 m2 to stand. There was no difference between the CONTOUR and HALF-GRID methods (P > 0.05); however, using the FULL-GRID sows required 0.3 m2 more floor area to lie and stand compared with the other measuring methods (P < 0.05). Space used to turn around differed between measuring method (P < 0.05). Sows required 1.9 ± 0.18 m2 for D-PIVOT and 7.3 ± 0.18 m2 for R-PIVOT to turn around. Space utilized to lie-down and stand-up increased as gestation progressed (P < 0.05). Under the conditions of this study, lameness did not influence dynamic space utilization; however, lameness recorded was relatively mild and might not have been sufficiently severe to significantly affect the results. These results could be important in decision-making process for housing specifications regarding US sow gestation housing

Evaluation of Precision Livestock Technology and Human Scoring of Nursery Pigs in a Controlled Immune Challenge Experiment

The objectives were to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and cutoff values of a visual-based precision livestock technology (NUtrack), and determine the sensitivity and specificity of sickness score data collected with the live observation by trained human observers. At weaning, pigs (n = 192; gilts and barrows) were randomly assigned to one of twelve pens (16/pen) and treatments were randomly assigned to pens. Sham-pen pigs all received subcutaneous saline (3 mL). For LPS-pen pigs, all pigs received subcutaneous lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 300 µg/kg BW; E. coli O111:B4; in 3 mL of saline). For the last treatment, eight pigs were randomly assigned to receive LPS, and the other eight were sham (same methods as above; half-and-half pens). Human data from the day of the challenge presented high true positive and low false positive rates (88.5% sensitivity; 85.4% specificity; 0.871 Area Under Curve, AUC), however, these values declined when half-and-half pigs were scored (75% sensitivity; 65.5% specificity; 0.703 AUC). Precision technology measures had excellent AUC, sensitivity, and specificity for the first 72 h after treatment and AUC values were \u3e0.970, regardless of pen treatment. These results indicate that precision technology has a greater potential for identifying pigs during a natural infectious disease event than trained professionals using timepoint sampling

Characterization of the lying and rising sequence in lame and non-lame sows

peer-reviewedThis study aimed to identify possible differences in the lying and standing sequence between lame and non-lame gestating sows. A total of 85 stall-housed sows (average parity 0.9 ± 1.14; range 0–4) were scored for walking lameness on a 3-point scale (1 = normal to 3=severely lame) while moving to a separate gestation stall for recording of one lying-standing event on days 30, 60 and 90 of gestation. A video camera was positioned on the adjacent stall so sows’ profiles were visible. Observations ceased when the sow laid-down and stood-up, or 2.5 h elapsed from recording commencement. From videos, postures and movements that occurred during lying-standing sequences were identified. Time (seconds) from kneeling to shoulder rotation (KSR), shoulder rotation to lying (SRHQ), total time to lie (TLIE); latency to lie (LATENCY; minutes) and number of attempts to successfully lie were recorded. Also, time taken from first leg fold to sit (TLS), time from sit to rise (TSR), and total time to rise (TRISE) were recorded. Sows were re-classified as non-lame (score 1) and lame (scores ≥ 2). Data were analyzed using mixed model methods with gestation day, and lameness as fixed effects and sow the random effect. On average, sows took 14.3 ± 1.39 s for KSR, 7.7 ± 0.79 s for SRHQ, 21.0 ± 1.37 s for TLIE and 63.6 ± 5.97 min for LATENCY. Furthermore, sows took 8.8 ± 2.80 s for TLS, 5.95 ± 1.73 s for TSR, and 10.3 ± 2.02 s for TRISE. There were no associations between lameness status or gestation day with time required for or the likelihood of performing the different movements of the lying and standing sequences (P >  0.05). Except for lame sows tending to sit more while transitioning from lying to standing than non-lame sows (P =  0.09). Seven different lying and 4 different standing combination deviation from the normal sequences, albeit each combination was infrequent and did not allow for statistical analysis. However, all together, deviations from the normal lying and standing sequence accounted for 22.7 % and 35 % of total observations; respectively. Under the conditions of this study, lameness did not influence the time taken or the likelihood of performing different movements and/or postures during normal lying-standing sequences. However, this could be due to lameness recorded here not being severe enough to affect the sequences. The observed deviations suggest that there is variation in the way sows lie and stand although more research is necessary to understand which factors contribute to such variation.National Pork Boar

Dynamic space utilization of lame and non-lame sows as determined by their lying-standing sequence profile

The primary objective of this project was to determine the dynamic space utilization for lame and non-lame sows during a lying-standing postural sequence. A secondary objective was to characterize the postures and movements for multiparous lame and sound sows and to identify differences in the lying and standing sequence. A total of 85 multiparous sows were used. Each sow was evaluated for walking lameness between their gestation stall to a pen using a 3-point scale (1 = normal to 3 = severely lame). Individual sows were moved to a pen on day 30, 60 and 90 of gestation and a ceiling mounted camera was installed above the pen to record a single lying-standing event. Observations ceased when the sow laid-down and stood-up or if 2.5 hours elapsed from recording commencement. Lying and standing sequence still frames were combined into a single image and measured in Adobe Photoshop Elements by counting the pixel number associated with contouring the sows’ body or; counting squares on a grid that was overlaid on the sow’s image. A second video of the sows’ profile while standing in a gestation stall was collected on 30, 60 and 90 days of gestation. From this video, postures and movements that occurred during the lying-standing sequence were identified. Time (seconds) from kneeling to shoulder rotation (KSR), shoulder rotation to lying (SRHQ) and total time to lie (TLIE) were determined. In addition, latency to lie (LATENCY; minutes) and number of attempts (ATTEMPTS) to successfully lie were recorded. Time (seconds) to stand was defined as the first leg fold to sit (TLS), time from sit to rise (TSR), and total time to rise (TRISE) were recorded from the standing sequence. Data was analyzed using mixed model equations. Lameness was re-classified as non-lame (score 1) and lame (scores ≥ 2) and parity was re-classified as 0, 1 and 2+. On average, sows used 1.2 à  à ± 0.4 m2 to lie and to stand and there was no difference in the space required between the two measuring methods used (P > 0.05). Space required to lie and stand increased as gestation progressed (P 0.05). On average, sows took 13.9 seconds for KSR, 7.7 seconds for SRHQ, 20.5 seconds for TLIE and 66.1 minutes for LATENCY. Furthermore, sows took 8.0 seconds for TLS, 6.9 sec for TSR, and 9.8 seconds for TRISE. Lame sows tended to take longer during KSR (15.5 vs. 11.9 à  à ± 1.59 seconds for lame and sound sows, respectively; P = 0.08), and spent less time standing (54.1 vs. 69.8 à  à ± 6.20 minutes for lame and sound sows, respectively; P = 0.06) when compared to sound sows. Additionally, lame sows tended to be more likely to sit while transitioning from lying to standing compared with sound sows (P = 0.07). Gestation day and parity were not associated with the time taken for the different movements in the lying down sequence (P > 0.05). There were no significant associations between gestation day, lameness status or parity and the sow’s attempts to lie. Sows in their first parity had greater TLS compared with gilts (20.9 vs. 4.7 à  à ± 3.01 seconds; P 0.05). Under the conditions of this study, lameness did not influence dynamic space requirements or the time taken for the different lying-standing sequence movements. However, the observed lameness was mild and thus, it might not have been severe enough to affect the studied traits. The results from this study could be important when making breeding herd housing specifications decisions regarding sow gestation space needs in the U.S.</p

Production and welfare of sows and pigs in lactation

Doctor of PhilosophyDepartment of HistoryLindsey E. HulbertWelfare of pigs has become a larger issue in the United States in recent years. The evolution of production facilities and production schemes require investigation into the performance of sows and piglets. Especially given public perception and changing regulations regarding food production. The use of technology as a strategy to decrease preweaning mortality may have detrimental effects on the sows and should be explored. Fifty-six sows treated with wearable novel technology to reduce preweaning mortality showed more exaggerated behavioral response to a simulated piglet crushing event by jumping or rising to a standing position more than control sows (P 0.10). Piglet birth order and management status (transferred or not) as well as sow treatment in lactation impact future piglet performance and welfare. The application of aversive stimuli to sows disrupted nursing stability. More piglets in VIB+EI treatment missed nursing bouts over the course of treatment (P=0.001). Birth order was grouped into categories (piglets born 1-5, 6-11, 12-18, 19-21) and transferred piglets. Earlier born piglets had a shorter latency to suckle (P = 0.05). Piglets that were transferred were more likely to move toward the sows head to suckle (P = 0.09). Transfer piglets and piglets in birth category three were less consistently in the same teat quadrant (P = 0.05) compared to earlier or late born piglets. Piglet weight was taken at birth, day seven and weaning. Transfer piglets were largest throughout, and latest born piglets gained a higher percentage of body weight over the course of lactation (P < 0.05). Multiple technological advances have been developed to both mitigate the loss of piglets around parturition, as well as increase their, and the sows welfare. The varying designs and results of which consistently indicate mortality risk is greater within early life and restricting sow movement is a common theme to prevent loss. Technology, and its impact on pork production is an evolving relationship. The use of novel technology can positively impact production numbers without impacting the overall welfare of the sows or piglets

Identification of the Range of Hock Angles in Lame and Non-lame Replacement Gilt

Hock angle ranges were measured in Yorkshire gilts from the 10th generation of gilts divergently selected for residual feed intake (RFI) at Iowa State University. Fifty-five gilts (low RFI n= 26 and high RFI n= 29) were included in the study. Digital profile images were taken from each gilt and hock angles were measured while the gilt’s leg was positioned forward, standing squarely, and backwards. Angles were calculated by tracing the front and back of the joint between the fibula/tibia and tarsals, with the anterior and posterior positions acting as the anchor. Additionally, gilts were classified as lame or non-lame according to their gait. Differences for hock angulation were found between RFI lines. Gilts in the low RFI line had wider hock angles while their leg was in the rear position than the high RFI but there was no difference in the front or standing positon. There was no difference in hock angles between lame and non- lame sows. However, when hock angles from lame and non-lame legs within each gilt were compared, lame legs had wider hock angles while standing and while flexing legs backwards when compared with the sound leg. Results indicate that there is a measureable difference in hock angulation between RFI lines and between lame and non-lame legs. Biological importance of such differences requires further research. These data indicate that there are differences in the angle to the hock, and lameness does play a part in those differences. This could indicate that the hock needs to be included as a tool for selection of animals with regards to longevity.needs to be included as a tool for selection of animals with regards to longevity.</p