Lameness is one of the leading welfare and culling reasons in breeding sows, causing chronic pain that affects the sow's entire reproductive cycle and lifetime welfare. Prevention and treatment are high welfare priorities.
Sow lameness represents a chronic welfare burden affecting a significant proportion of breeding animals throughout their productive lives. A lame sow navigates daily farm routines including feeding and service in pain, with welfare consequences compounding over multiple reproductive cycles. The connection between lameness and reproductive performance aligns welfare and economic interests - a lame sow is less productive as well as suffering. Prevention through floor surface improvement (rubber matting over concrete), body condition management, genetic selection for foot and leg conformation, and regular mobility scoring and treatment protocols represents the welfare-optimal approach. Treatment with appropriate pain relief and podiatry is essential for managing existing lameness while implementing preventive measures.