Sow claw lesions offer clues worth investigating

DES MOINES, Iowa — Claw lesions can be easy to miss, especially when a sow moves normally and there is no obvious reason to look more closely at her feet.

However, evaluating claw health can reveal valuable clues about what may be happening with the sow before more visible problems develop.

“Lameness isn’t inevitable and it doesn’t have to be something that we as an industry just accept,” said Sarah Weiland, swine global research and technical services associate with Zinpro. “We know now that claw lesions are actually a clue that a sow doesn’t have what she needs to perform at her best.”

Following those clues can help producers and nutritionists identify the root cause of claw health issues and make more informed decisions for the herd.

Clue 1: What type of lesions do you see?

Several different lesions can be present in sow claws. Two especially important examples are white line lesions and heel overgrowth and erosion.

“White line lesions can become severe and contribute to lameness relatively quickly,” Weiland said. “Those situations often lead to culling because it’s such a severe lesion that the animal can’t maintain sound movement.”

Heel overgrowth and erosion tell a somewhat different story. Affected sows may remain in the herd longer, but the lesion can become severe on the bottom of the claw and contribute to pain, discomfort and inflammation.

Recognizing the type and severity of lesions present helps producers understand the severity of the issue. From there, the investigation broadens.

Clue 2: What physical influences affect sow foot health?

Flooring, housing, injuries and other environmental conditions can contribute to claw damage. Understanding those conditions is an important part of determining why a lesion developed.

“If you’re seeing the same type of lesions across multiple sows, look at what those animals have in common,” Weiland said. “Flooring, housing and other environmental factors can all help you start narrowing down what may be contributing to the problem.”

Examine affected sows’ housing. Consider which factors could cause injury or excess wear. Determine whether environmental conditions help explain the type or pattern of lesions being observed.

Clue 3: Does the sow have what she needs to recover?

Regardless of where the claw lesion challenge began, the sow needs nutritional resources to help maintain and repair claw tissues.

“The sow’s body is an amazing healing machine,” Weiland said. “Most lesions are things that the sow should be able to heal from. But when they don’t have what they need to allow that healing to happen, that’s when these lesions can go on for a long time and cause issues.”

Trace minerals are important building blocks for claw integrity, skin barrier function and tissue maintenance. Identifying persistent or increasing claw lesions is a reason to take another look at the herd’s trace mineral program.

“Trace minerals are in every sow diet,” Weiland said. “We understand trace mineral recommendations fairly well, but what muddies the water a bit is that not all minerals are as available and as efficiently used in the body.”

Mineral source matters because a trace mineral must first be absorbed before the sow can use it. Providing a highly bioavailable trace mineral source helps support claw integrity and tissue maintenance throughout the sow’s productive life.

Put The Evidence Together

The best investigations rarely rely on one clue. Lesion type, severity, prevalence, environment and nutrition should be considered together to build a more complete picture of what is happening in the herd.

“Claw lesions are evidence,” Weiland said. “The more producers and nutritionists understand what that evidence means, the better equipped they are to investigate the root cause and make informed nutrition and management decisions.”