Measure and characterization of lameness in gestating sows using force plate, kinematic, and accelerometer methods

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Veterinary Medicine
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Lameness is a significant welfare and economic issue in swine production.
• Objective assessment of lameness in sows is crucial for early detection and intervention.
• Traditional visual scoring can be subjective and may not capture subtle lameness indicators.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of force plate measurements in assessing sow lameness.
• To compare force plate data with kinematic and accelerometer measurements for lameness detection.
• To determine the repeatability and diagnostic potential of various biomechanical parameters.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a force plate with four load cells to record weight distribution in sows.
• Collected kinematic data (gait parameters) and accelerometer data (activity patterns).
• Visually scored 61 sows for lameness using a 3-point system and analyzed force plate, kinematic, and accelerometer data.

Main Results:

• Force plate measures, specifically weight shifting frequency and contralateral leg weight ratio, differed significantly between lameness scores.
• Sows with higher lameness scores exhibited increased weight shifting and decreased hind limb weight symmetry.
• Site differences (genetics, housing) influenced measurements, highlighting the need for context-specific interpretation.

Conclusions:

• Force plate measurements, particularly weight shifting and weight distribution asymmetry, are reliable indicators of sow lameness.
• Combining static (force plate, accelerometers) and dynamic (kinematics) assessments provides a more complete picture of lameness.
• Objective biomechanical measures offer a valuable complement to subjective visual lameness scoring in swine.