Lameness is one of the most significant welfare problems in pigs, yet it receives far less attention than in cattle and horses. Understanding its causes and prevention is essential.
Pig lameness causes chronic pain that profoundly affects welfare. Lame sows cannot compete effectively for food, water, and social resources in group housing systems. They are disadvantaged at automatic feeders, unable to escape aggression, and at risk of becoming body-condition-score-deficient. The common response — early culling of lame sows — removes the animal from suffering but represents a welfare failure: better prevention and treatment would be preferable. Concrete slat flooring is a primary driver of foot problems and warrants redesign in welfare-conscious systems. The lack of attention to pig lameness relative to cattle lameness reflects lower perceived economic significance, but the welfare burden is equally real.