Effects of Two Different Methods of Teeth Grinding on Dental Injuries, Skin Lesions, Growth and Behaviour of Suckling Piglets Compared to a Non-Treated Control Group
Carolin Bernarda Timphaus,
Franziska Anna kleine Kruthaup,
Fritjof Freise,
Swetlana Herbrandt,
Elisabeth große Beilage,
Michaela Fels
Affiliations
Carolin Bernarda Timphaus
Field Station for Epidemiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover Foundation, Büscheler Straße 9, D-49456 Bakum, Germany
Franziska Anna kleine Kruthaup
Field Station for Epidemiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover Foundation, Büscheler Straße 9, D-49456 Bakum, Germany
Fritjof Freise
Institute for Biometry, Epidemiology and Information Processing, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover Foundation, Bünteweg 2, D-30559 Hannover, Germany
Swetlana Herbrandt
Statistical Consulting and Analysis, Center for Higher Education, TU Dortmund University, Vogelpothsweg 78, D-44227 Dortmund, Germany
Elisabeth große Beilage
Field Station for Epidemiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover Foundation, Büscheler Straße 9, D-49456 Bakum, Germany
Michaela Fels
Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behaviour, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, D-30173 Hannover, Germany
Teeth grinding in suckling piglets is performed on many farms to protect the piglets’ littermates and the sow’s udder from injuries caused by the piglets’ canines and third incisors. In this study, the effects of two teeth-grinding methods on the piglets’ dental health and welfare were investigated. The piglets of a litter were evenly assigned to a treatment: one-third of littermates were ground with a roller grinding head (RG), one-third with a teacup grinding head (TCG), and one-third were not ground at all (CG). A random sample of 100 animals each from the RG and TCG treatment was examined for tooth injuries, i.e., dental pulp openings. Additionally, behavioural analysis was performed (n = 650 piglets), and skin lesions, growth and mortality were determined (n = 1565 piglets). TCG piglets had a lower risk (p p > 0.05). This study showed that both teeth-grinding methods led to pulp openings. If teeth grinding cannot be avoided on a farm, using the teacup grinding head is recommended concerning animal health and welfare.
