Hoof lesions and lameness in pedigree swine

Abstract

In order to evaluate the incidence, type and site of hoof lesions and their influence on walking, the feet of 1.022 Duroc, Large White and Landrace breeding pigs were clinically examined at eight pig shows hold in the states of Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul and Paraná, Brazil. Thirty-eight and a half per cent of the animals showed lameness. A significantly lower frequency of lameness and incidence of lesions was seen in Duroc pigs. The incidence of lesions was higher (P<0.001) on the hing limbs and independent of the limb position, on the external claws. It was observed that occurrence of cracks in the lateral region of the wall of the hoof and along the white line was greater (P<0.05) than that of other lesions.