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A Radiographic Characterization of Toe Length Disparity and its Relation to Nutrition and Structural Unsoundness in Boars, Barrows and Sows¹

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061

Abstract

The front and hind feet from a total of 64 boars, 86 sows and 107 barrows were radiographed after necropsy to study the nature of inequalities in digits and their relation to nutrition and structural unsoundness in swine. Boars were fed ad libitum or 75% ad libitum with 100 or 150% of 1979 NRC recommended vitamin-mineral levels, whereas, sows were fed the same two levels of energy with 100 or 150% of NRC recommended calcium-phosphorus (Ca-P) levels during the growing-finishing period. Barrows were fed two sources of phosphorus with increasing levels of sodium. Radiographs of metacarpals, metatarsals and associated phalanges were measured for length and deviations of proximal and distal extremities. The length of both medial and lateral bones were longer (P<.05) in boars fed 75% ad libitum than in the ad libitum-fed group, which was probably due to age (285 ± 8.7 vs 240 ± 8.4 d). Dietary energy and Ca-P level did not influence the bone lengths in sows. Similarly, dietary phosphorus source or sodium level had no influence on bone lengths or deviations in barrows. The incidence of inequality in digits with a smaller medial digit was 90.9% in boars, 96.7% in sows and 87.6% in barrows. In boars and sows, the inequality in digits of front feet was due to lower positioning of proximal extremities of lateral bones because the total lengths of both medial and lateral bones were approximately equal. In hind feet, this inequality was more due to longer lateral bones because the proximal extremities of metatarsals were positioned at approximately an equal level. Correlation coefficients between soundness scores and distal deviations of front and hind feet in boars and sows were not significant (P<.05). These results indicate that the inequality in digits of boars, sows and barrows was influenced very little by the nutritional factors examined in this study, and that the inequality of lengths and positions of digits was not a primary cause for structural unsoundness.

¹ Appreciation is expressed to the John Lee Pratt Anim. Nutr. Program for financial support; to Borden Chem. Co., Norfolk, VA, Agricultural Processing, Salem, VA, and Calcium Carbonate Co., Quincy, IL for ingredients; to Ken Bryant and Charlie Babb for animal care; to Susan Arthur-Fennell, Richard A. Barczewski. Roger St. George and Alan Lepine for assistance in data collection; and to Helen Bartlett and Dr. D. R. Notter for data analysis.

² Present Address: Agriculture Canada Res. Sta., Box 610, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada R7A 5Z7.

³ Dept. of Anim. Sci.

⁴ Div. of Pathol, and Public Practice.