Bone lesions in clinically normal and in lame pigs

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Pathology
• Comparative Anatomy
• Animal Science

Background:

• Locomotor dysfunction is a significant concern in swine production.
• Growth plate abnormalities can lead to skeletal deformities and lameness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate pathological changes in the femur, rib, and sternum of pigs.
• To correlate these changes with age, weight, and the incidence of lameness.

Main Methods:

• Pathological examination of femur, rib, and sternum from clinically normal and lame Yorkshire X Landrace pigs.
• Histological analysis of growth plate tissues.
• Gross morphological assessment of skeletal structures.

Main Results:

• Femoral growth plate changes (necrosis, matrix loosening, chondrocytic disorganization) were present from 2.8 kg onwards.
• Abnormalities in the great trochanter position and angle were noted with increasing weight.
• Rib growth plates showed similar, though less severe, changes; sternum showed minimal changes in normal pigs.
• Lame pigs exhibited more pronounced femoral and rib growth plate changes.

Conclusions:

• Subtle pathological changes in bone growth plates occur early in pig development.
• These changes are progressive and associated with increasing body weight and age.
• The observed skeletal alterations likely contribute to the development of hind leg lameness in older pigs.