Piglets commonly suffer from a splaying out of the limbs soon after birth, which can severely compromise their ability to suck and to escape from under the sow. The overall incidence of the condition is unknown but can occur:-
as a sporadic outbreak over a short period of time – affecting 20 per cent or more of pigs.
as an occasional condition in isolated pigs or litters.
as a longstanding grumbling problem in a herd. The condition in itself is not fatal – death being due to a combination of starvation and crushing – and as such, the mortality is highly variable, depending on the level and quality of nursing offered to the piglets. Where husbandry and stockmanship is inadequate, mortality can approach 100 per cent of affected piglets.