Erste Ergebnisse einer Untersuchung zu Lahmheiten bei ökologisch gehaltenen Zuchtsauen in Stallhaltung mit Auslauf

to identify risk factors for lameness. The project focused on sows kept indoors with access to an outdoor run. Sows were chosen since they are kept for a longer period of time as compared with fattening pigs and therefore influencing factors from the housing environment may have a greater impact on them. Furthermore, leg health is a prerequisite for productivity and longevity. In the preparatory phase, different gait scoring systems were identified from the /iterature and tested with regard to reliability and feasibility in the on-farm context. Also, farms willing to cooperate (criteria for inclusion: minimum herd size 20 sows, certified since at least two years) were identified. 40 farms were visited once and lameness and leg health was assessed on an individual level. Mean prevalence of mild and severe lameness in pregnant sows was 6.0 % (min-max 0-27 %) and 0.9 % (0-.11 %), respectively, and thus substantially lower than data from conventional pig farming. The final analysis will comprise the identification of factors associated with lameness under the organic farming conditions investigated.