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Etterlin, Pernille Engelsen; Ytrehus, Bjørnar; Lundeheim, Nils; Heldmer, Eva; Österberg, Julia; Ekman, Stina. |
Background Free-range housing, in which pigs have access to both indoor and outdoor areas, is mandatory in organic pig production in Europe, but little is known about the effects of this housing on joint health in pigs. A high level of joint condemnations at slaughter has been reported in organic free-range pigs in Sweden, compared with pigs raised in conventional confined housing. We hypothesised that biomechanical forces imposed on the joints of pigs that range freely promote the development of osteochondrosis and lead to joint condemnation. We compared the prevalence of osteochondrosis and other joint lesions (e.g. arthritis, traumatic) in the elbow and hock joints of 91 crossbred Hampshire (Yorkshire×Landrace) fattening pigs that were housed in a... |
Tipo: Journal paper |
Palavras-chave: Farming Systems; Animal husbandry; Health and welfare; Pigs. |
Ano: 2014 |
URL: http://orgprints.org/29322/1/Effects%20of%20free-range%20and%20confined%20housing%20on%20joint%20health%20in%20a%20herd%20of%20fattening%20pigs.pdf |
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