Sow behavioral responses to transient, chemically induced synovitis lameness

Abstract

The objective was to determine behavioral changes when sows were induced lame using this chemical synovitis model. Twenty-three multiparous, non-pregnant sows were compared during lame and non-lame states. Behavior was recorded over three days. Seven behaviors (foraging, drinking, standing, sitting, sternal and lateral lying) and three locations (drinker, home pen and feed bunk) were recorded. Observations of sows drinking, standing, lying sternal and being in the drinker location decreased after induction. Lying lateral frequency, regardless of side, increased after sows were induced lame. Frequency in the home pen location increased, but no differences were observed for feed bunk location after sows were induced lame. The induced lame foot had no observed effect on lying side preference. By the end of the round, all behavioral and location frequencies returned to baseline levels. Standing, lying and drinking frequencies seem to be promising sow behavioral tools when transitioning from sound to lame states.