Effects of lameness on productivity and longevity for sows in pen

Objective: To determine the impact of lameness on sow productivity and longevity and evaluate the effects of housing management on the removal of lame sows in herds using pen gestation. Materials and methods: Retrospective production records and information on housing methods were collected from 23 farms using pen gestation and analyzed for the removal of 214,254 sows from 2014 through 2020. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate differences in longevity, productivity, and the impact of housing methods. Results: Lameness was the third most reported cause of removal for sows in the study (13.7%). Sows culled for lameness spent significantly fewer days in the herd (P < .001), resulting in fewer litters (P < .001). The odds of removal for lameness were increased by several farm level factors including using dynamic groups and decreasing square footage (P < .05). Implications: Lameness is one of the top 3 reasons reported for sow removal and those sows are costly as they leave the herd earlier, are less productive, and are more likely to die or be euthanized versus culled. Housing methods play a role in the odds of removal for lameness and should be further investigated.