ThePigSite Quick Disease Guide
Vulval Biting
This is a common condition in sows loose housed in the last 5 - 6 weeks of pregnancy.
May be confused with cystitis.
Sows bite at the vulva, which has become swollen with advancing pregnancy, particularly when access to food fed on the floor is poor. A sow bites the vulva to gain access to feed. The trauma causes haemorrhage, infection and the development of scar tissue which may inhibit the farrowing process.
Symptoms
SowsAcute:
- Blood on the noses of sows.
- Blood around the vulva of the affected sow.
- Haemorrhage.
- Swollen red torn infected vulva.
- Occasionally inappetence.
- Scar tissue.
- Abscesses.
- Low grade infections.
- Ascending womb infections discharges.
- Repeats in some badly affected sows.
- N/A
Causes / Contributing factors
- Group behavioural abnormalities.
- Vulval biting is much more common in pens that are long and narrow rather than those that are wide. There is less competition at feeding time in a wide pen.
- Vulva biting is also common when electronic feeder systems are used. It requires careful stockmanship and good pen design to prevent it.
- There is a relationship between vulva biting and feed intake, the size of the feed pellet, the type of floor surface and the bedding used. Many cases occur in the last 3 - 4 weeks of pregnancy.
- High stocking densities predispose.
Diagnosis
Made from the symptoms, examine the vulva for trauma.May be confused with cystitis.
Further Reading
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