Review of health problems in group-housed sows, with special emphasis on lameness.
In the Netherlands, there is a trend towards housing gestating sows in groups. Vulva biting and lameness have been described as major health problems in group-housed sows. Besides these problems, the effects of group housing on morbidity, reproduction parameters and the occurrence of infectious disease have been investigated. The literature is reviewed, with special emphasis on lameness.
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Large Animal Medicine and Nutrition, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
A
A
Kroneman
L
L
Vellenga
F J
FJ
van der Wilt
H M
HM
Vermeer
D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006799:Housing, Animal / Q000639:trends; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014844:Vulva / Q000293:injuries