Vet Med - Czech, 2004, 49(10):359-364 | DOI: 10.17221/5716-VETMED

Emergency slaughter of pigs due to immobility

A. Kozak, J. Holejsovsky, P. Belobradek, L. Ostadalova, P. Chloupek
1 Veterinary Administration of the City of Prague, Czech Republic
2 State Veterinary Administration, Prague, Czech Republic
3 Regional Veterinary Administration, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
4 University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic

Immobility of pigs is a reason for emergency slaughter. The goal of this project was to determine the proportion of emergency slaughters due to immobility in pigs. In a selected pig slaughter facility, emergency slaughters were monitored in the period between 1997 and 2002 and the numbers of pigs slaughtered due to immobility reasons were monitored. The conclusion was that the proportion of sows slaughtered due to immobility reasons is high (31.3%) in comparison to other pigs (9.7%) and this difference was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.01). The objective of the project was also to determine the causes of immobility in emergency slaughtered pigs. Veterinary carcass, meat and organs inspections revealed that locomotor apparatus diseases (pelvic injuries, spinal contusion injuries or injuries of limbs, hind limb paresis, limb injuries, joint and claw inflammations) were more frequent causes of emergency slaughters due to immobility in pigs than general and other conditions (cachexia and gastrointestinal tract disorders, ataxia, tetany, circulation disorders including heart insufficiency, post-delivery complications, selection and others). In sows, the number of immobile animals with the diagnosis of locomotor apparatus diseases was high (90.0%) in comparison to the general condition and other disease diagnoses (10.0%); the difference was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.01). In other pigs, the number of immobile animals with the locomotor apparatus disease diagnosis was particularly high (96.4%) in comparison to the general condition and other disease diagnoses (3.6%); the difference was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.01). The results evidence that in sows as well as in other pigs, immobility necessitating emergency slaughters is due to unsuitable handling resulting in injuries and pareses of the locomotor apparatus rather than insufficient care leading to general conditions and other diseases.

Keywords: locomotor apparatus diseases; limb injuries; joint and claw inflammations; pelvic injuries; hind limb paresis; sows; pigs

Published: October 31, 2004  Show citation

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Kozak A, Holejsovsky J, Belobradek P, Ostadalova L, Chloupek P. Emergency slaughter of pigs due to immobility. Vet Med - Czech. 2004;49(10):359-364. doi: 10.17221/5716-VETMED.
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