Scoring shoulder ulcers in breeding sows – is a distinction between substantial and insubstantial animal welfare-related lesions possible on clinical examination?

Table 5 Clinical findings in shoulder lesions of Score-H^a Stages^b 0 to 5 (number of findings; % in brackets)

Clinical parameter	Stage 0		Stage 1		Stage 2		Stage 3		Stage 4		Stage 5
Hairless	12	(40)	26	(86.7)	30	(100)	30	(100)	30	(100)	25	(83.3)
Intact	30	(100)	0	(0)	0	(0)	0	(0)	0	(0)	18	(60)
Reddening	9	(30)	21	(70)	22	(73.3)	24	(80)	24	(80)	16	(53.3)
Scratch	7	(23.3)	10	(33.3)	6	(20)	7	(23.3)	4	(13.3)	5	(16.7)
Scratches (≥ 2)	9	(30)	18	(60)	10	(33.3)	10	(33.3)	6	(20)	10	(33.3)
Scar	0	(0)	8	(26.7)	14	(46.7)	8	(26.7)	7	(23.3)	30	(100)
Powm^c	0	(0)	0	(0)	1	(3.3)	10	(33.3)	21	(70)	0	(0)
Scab	0	(0)	30	(100)	30	(100)	30	(100)	30	(100)	12	(40)
Mass	0	(0)	5	(16.7)	8	(26.7)	19	(63.3)	28	(93.3)	1	(3.3)
Mass > 4 cm	0	(0)	0	(0)	0	(0)	5	(16.7)	16	(53.3)	0	(0)
Fluctuation of mass	0	(0)	3	(10)	2	(6.7)	5	(16.7)	3	(10)	1	(3.3)
Movable mass	0	(0)	4	(13.3)	3	(10)	8	(26.7)	3	(10)	0	(0)

ISSN: 2055-5660