Changes in Feet and Leg Joint Angles in Gilts Divergently Selected for Residual Feed Intake during their First Gestation

摘要

This study attempted to characterize any potential changes in feet and leg characteristics due togestation stage, genetic line difference or lameness status during the gilt’s first gestation.Joint angles for knee, hock, front and rear pastern were measured in 40 Yorkshire gilts divergently selected for residual feed intake (RFI) on days 30, 60 and 90 of gestation. On the same days, gilts were scored for walking lameness (i.e. lame ornon-lame)Significant differences (P \u3c 0.05) between gestation dayand lameness status were identified in the knee and both pasterns. Significant differences (P \u3c 0.05) in RFI line were also observed in both pasterns. These measurements suggest that as gestationprogresses, structural changesoccur. Similarly, differences between RFI linesmay be due to some underlying genetic effect that has not previously been identified. In this study, lame sows were also observed to have greater joint angles for the knee, front and rear pasterns; however, such differences were minimal and their biological relevance is unclear.