Prevalence of lesions and body condition scores among female swine at slaughter.
OBJECTIVE
To determine prevalence of foot lesions, dermatitis, shoulder lesions, mammary gland abnormalities, and visceral lesions, and body condition scores among culled female swine at slaughter.


METHODS
Observational study.


METHODS
Culled gilts and sows killed during a 1-week period at a Midwest slaughterhouse.


METHODS
Carcasses were examined, and lesions were recorded. Body condition was scored on the basis of standard criteria.


RESULTS
58.9% (1,029/1,747) of the carcasses had foot lesions, 67.3% (1,178/1,751) had dermatitis, and 4.6% (80/1,751) had shoulder lesions. Body condition score was significantly associated with detection of dermatitis and shoulder lesions. Mean +/- SE number of teats (n = 1,432 carcasses) was 13.86 +/- 0.02. Mean numbers of normal-appearing teats in the left and right mammary chains were 6.57 +/- 0.02 and 6.58 +/- 0.02, respectively. Feet from 48% (688/1,433) of the carcasses were condemned. Visceral lesions were found in 48.8% (624/1,278) of the carcasses; of the carcasses with lesions, 412 (66%) had liver spots, and 268 (42.9%) had pneumonia.


CONCLUSIONS
Lesions that potentially could have adversely affected production were found in a large percentage of culled gilts and sows at slaughter. Knowledge of lesions commonly found at slaughter may help direct changes in herd health programs.
Ritter
L A
LA
Department of Clinical and Population Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul 55108, USA.
Xue
J
J
Dial
G D
GD
Morrison
R B
RB
Marsh
W E
WE
D000003:Abattoirs; D000818:Animals; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000473:pathology; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D015146:Midwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012782:Shoulder / Q000473:pathology; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014781:Viscera / Q000473:pathology