Osteochondrosis in six breeds of slaughter pigs

Summary The severity and extent of osteochondral lesions have been examined, macroscopically, radiographically as well as histopathologically, in six different breeds of pigs (Belgian Landrace (B), Duroc (D), Dutch Landrace (N), Dutch Yorkshire (G), Hampshire (H) and Piétrain (P)). In these pigs three different levels of feeding were used. Duroc pigs had significantly more severe lesions in the fore limbs than Dutch Landrace (N), Dutch Yorkshire (G), Hampshire (H) and Piétrain (P) pigs, while Belgian Landrace pigs (B) had significant more severe lesions than Dutch Yorkshire (G) pigs. The differences between breeds related more to the degree of severity of the lesions in the articular surfaces of the distal humerus and proximal radius-ulna and in the distal ulnar growth plate than to the presence of the lesions per se. In the hind limbs Belgian Landrace pigs (B) had significantly more severe osteochondral lesions than all other breeds, while Dutch Landrace pigs (N) had significantly more severe lesions than Duroc (D), Dutch Yorkshire (G), Hampshire (H) and Piétran (P) pigs. Pigs with the highest growth rate showed sginificantly more severe osteochondral lesions in the distal ulnar growth plate and in the medial fe,moral condyle than pigs with a more restricted growth rate.