Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

On average half of the sows in Swedish piglet producing herds are culled
annually. A significant portion of the sows are euthanized because of lameness or
paralysis. Young sows and gilts are overrepresented in the category of animals,
culled due to injuries in the musculoskeletal system. These injuries cause pain to
the animals. Early culling of sows/gilts also have economical consequences for
the producers. The purpose of this study was to characterize joint and skeletal
changes found in 10 gilts, euthanized due to lameness and paralysis. Joints,
including articular cartilage, subchondral bone and joint capsules were examined
macroscopically, histologically and the synovial fluid was cultured
bacteriologically. The pathological finding, responsible for lameness and paralysis
of the 10 sows in this study were; arthritis, osteochondrosis, fractures, and one
abscess in the vertebral column. The lesions were both acute and chronic in
nature. Several of the lesions included osteoarthritis, which is a common sequel of
various joint injuries.