195 The Impact of Developmental Housing Type on Toe Growth and Wear in Sows

Abstract

Abstract Swine housing systems are ever-changing to improve animal husbandry. Recently, gilts are being transitioned from gestation stalls to pens with resulting phenotypic effects being unclear. Toe growth and wear are often negated during structural analysis, with objective data of their trends being limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the impact of housing type on toe growth and wear during gestation of golts. York x Landrace gilts (n = 321) were used at the UNL ENREC swine farm. Gilts were randomly assigned to either pen (4 pigs/pen; 2.09 m2/pig) or stall (2.06 x 0.48 m) housing at 210 days of age. For analysis, gilts were lifted in a Feet First Chute (Zinpro) to permanently mark the lateral toes on the left front and back feet at ~1 cm from the coronary band. Toe length above and below the mark was measured with a digital caliper. Measurements took place before breeding (PRE), at day 30 (D30), day 57 (D57), and day 100 (D100) of gestation, and at weaning (WEAN). Estimated marginal means were calculated with regards for development group, housing type, and initial toe lengths. From PRE to D100, stall housed gilts had greater (P < 0.01) front growth (32.5 vs. 26.8 mm), similar front wear (-25.3 vs. -23.4 mm), greater (P < 0.01) back growth (39.1 vs. 34.3 mm), greater (P < 0.01) back wear (-32.3 vs. -28.1 mm), a greater (P < 0.01) total front length (41.6 vs. 39.6 mm), and a slightly longer total back length (45.5 vs. 45 mm). From D100 to WEAN, pen housed gilts had more (P < 0.05) back wear (-5.12 vs. -4.32 mm) and subsequently less (P < 0.01) total back growth (4.88 vs. 6.50 mm); with no other differences showing significance. These results suggest that housing can alter feet conformation with stall developed gilts having longer toes when entering farrowing.