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- Title
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.
- Authors
Timphaus, Carolin Bernarda; kleine Kruthaup, Franziska Anna; Freise, Fritjof; Herbrandt, Swetlana; große Beilage, Elisabeth; Fels, Michaela
- Abstract
Simple Summary: In suckling piglets, the third incisors and canines are already formed at birth. This can lead to bite injuries when suckling on the sow's teats and during hierarchy formation among littermates. For this reason, some farms routinely grind the teeth with a rotating grinding head. However, grinding can lead to tooth injuries, inflammation and pain. The aim of this study was to compare the common roller grinding head with a so-called teacup grinding head (a teacup-shaped attachment that is supposed to adapt better to the individual tooth) and with a control group that was not ground at all. Therefore, dental injuries, weight gain, skin lesions, mortality and behaviour of piglets were determined. The teacup method caused significantly fewer opened tooth pulps than the roller head method. Nonetheless, no difference was found with regard to growth, lesions, mortality and behaviour when comparing the two grinding methods and the control group. It can be concluded that the teacup method is a more animal-friendly option. Nevertheless, it must be considered individually for each farm whether there is a need for grinding at all. If grinding cannot be dispensed with, the use of the teacup method is recommended in the interest of animal welfare. 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 < 0.001) of pulp opening than RG piglets (0.08 ± 0.31 vs. 2.67 ± 1.67 opened pulps per piglet). Mortality, growth, skin lesions and behaviour of piglets were not influenced by treatment (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.
- Subjects
BRUXISM; PIGLETS; ANIMAL welfare; DENTAL pulp; BEHAVIORAL assessment; MOUTH protectors; DENTAL health education
- Publication
Animals (2076-2615), 2024, Vol 14, Issue 9, p1318
- ISSN
2076-2615
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/ani14091318