The Veterinary Record, Vol 144, Issue 23, 629-632
Copyright © 1999 by British Veterinary Association

Foot lesions in finishing pigs and their associations with the type of floor

¹ University of Bristol, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Division of Animal Health and Husbandry, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU
² 64 Galgate, Barnard Castle, Durham DL12 8BJ

The associations between individual foot lesions and different types of floor were investigated in 4038 finishing pigs on 21 units. The overall prevalence of foot lesions was 93·8 per cent and the prevalence ranged from 79·4 per cent to 100 per cent on different units. Analysis showed that pigs kept on bedded floors, with either sparse or deep straw, had a lower prevalence of sole erosions, heel erosions and heel flaps and a higher prevalence of white line lesions, false sand cracks, wall separations and toe erosions than pigs kept on bare solid concrete floors. Partially slatted floors were associated with an increased prevalence of heel erosions, heel flaps, white line lesions, wall separations and false sand cracks, and totally slatted floors were associated with an increased prevalence of sole erosions and heel flaps.

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