Lameness in pigs is under-recognised and under-treated compared to other farm species. Improving detection and treatment is a significant welfare opportunity in commercial pig production.
Pig lameness is an underdiagnosed and undertreated welfare problem. Unlike lame cows, which have received significant research and management attention, pig lameness has been relatively neglected in commercial farming. Pigs in large group housing are difficult to observe individually; lame pigs may continue to compete for food and show fewer obvious signs than expected for the level of pathology present. Research using post-mortem data shows much higher prevalence of leg and joint pathology than clinical observation suggests. The welfare priority is improving observer skills, implementing regular lameness scoring walks, and ensuring prompt treatment of detected cases.