title: Does the presence of shoulder ulcers affect the behaviour of sows?
abstract: Shoulder ulcers are common in lactating sows. This case-control study compared behaviour of sows with shoulder ulcers (U-sows; N = 19) versus controls (C-sows; N = 19) and involved multiparous LxY sows, 14.7 ± 0.3 days post partum, kept in farrowing crates in a Danish herd. U-sows had at least one shoulder ulcer. Behavioural data were based on video recordings during a 24h period. U-sows spent less time lying (P = 0.04), tended to perform more postural changes (P = 0.096), spent more time standing still (P = 0.02), showed increased shoulder rubbing (P = 0.03) and reduced nursing frequency (P = 0.03) compared to the controls. These results show that the behaviour of sows with shoulder ulcers differ from healthy sows, suggesting that U-sows experienced discomfort or pain, and indicating that maternal behaviour can be sensitive to the presence of shoulder ulcers. Further studies - focussing on temporal development of shoulder ulcers combined with behaviour of sows and piglets - are needed to clarify animal welfare impact.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience, Ecology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Thea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.affiliation: Danish Agriculture & Food Council, Pig Research Centre, Kjellerup, Denmark.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, AU-FOULUM, Tjele, Denmark. Electronic address: MetteS.Herskin@anis.au.dk.
authors.forename: Mette S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Herskin
mesh_terms: D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012782:Shoulder; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014456:Ulcer / Q000150:complications*
keywords: Behaviour; Pain; Shoulder ulcer; Sow; Welfare