Lameness in Pregnant Sows Alters Placental Stress Response

Pregnant sows from commercial pig farms may experience painful states, such as lameness, an essential indicator in assessing sow welfare. We investigated the effect of lameness during last third pregnancy on reproductive performance and placental glucocorticoid concentrations sows. Periodic locomotion assessments were carried out two using a validated 0–5 scoring system (from 0: normal locomotion; to 5: downer animal). Sows both (N = 511) grouped based their average scores. On Farm 1, 30 selected either Not Lame (NL 16; X¯ 0–1) or (L 14; > 1). 2, 39 (G1 12; 0–1), Moderately (G2 13; 1.1–2), Severely (G3 ≥ 2.1). Reproductive data (gestation length, litter weight, piglet size, number piglets born alive/mummified/stillborn) recorded farms. Moreover, intrauterine growth restriction score dead first week also recorded, placenta samples collected determine cortisol/cortisone concentrations. A linear mixed model was used analyze data. The proportion pregnant >40%, gestation length tended decrease with presence (p < 0.1) G2 had higher ratio than G1 G3 0.01). In conclusion, high assessed, which reduce efficiency protecting offspring sows’ stress response.