title: Field study of hind limb claw lesions and claw measures in sows.
abstract: We investigated the associations of hind limb claw lesions with claw measures and reproductive performance of sows on a commercial breeding farm. We used a five-point scale (score of 0-4) for each hind limb claw region to generate a claw lesion score (CLS). Of 110 sows, 1.8% had no hind claw lesions, and the remaining 98.2% had at least one. The proportions of sows with a CLS of 2 and 3 were 49.1% and 3.6%, respectively. The junction region had the highest frequency of a CLS of ≥ 2 (P < 0.05). The mean toe length was 45.0 ± 0.4 to 46.4 ± 0.4 mm. Sows with the highest CLS of ≥ 2 in the lateral claw had longer sole dimensions than did sows with the highest CLS of ≤ 1 (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in claw width or height between sows with the highest CLS of ≥ 2 and ≤ 1. There was also no difference in reproductive performance between sows with the highest CLS of ≥ 2 and ≤ 1. In conclusion, most sows had hind claw lesions. The association between CLS and claw measures indicates that the sole length can be used as an indicator of claw lesions.
authors.affiliation: Organization for Promotion of Tenure Track, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan; Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Ruri
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ushijima
authors.forename: Masuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sueyoshi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006724:Hoof and Claw / Q000473:pathology*; D012098:Reproduction; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: claw disorder; claw measure; foot lesion; reproductive performance; sow