Better sow performance starts with good prevention

As indicated by earlier articles, sow lameness is a major reason for decreased sow longevity in swine breeding herds. The cost of lameness is estimated at €140 per case or €20,000 annually for a herd with 1,000 sows assuming 15% of the sows are lame at any one time throughout the year. A lifelong attention to the sow’s physiology can help – this already starts with paying extra attention to young gilts. By Dr Christof Rapp, Zinpro Animal Nutrition, Boxmeer, the Netherlands Lameness