Table 3 Animal-based, individual-level, on-farm indicators with category, source, scoring scale and definition. Only those categories indicating presence of a welfare issue (categories 1 and 2) are shown. (KTBL = German guideline for self-monitoring [40]; Vet = standard veterinarian health check [41]; WQP = Welfare Quality protocol for pigs [4])

Abdominal wall^*

Vet

1

Abnormal (tense)

Back posture

Vet

1

Abnormal (arched back)

Body condition

WQP

1

Thin: visible spine, hip, pin bones

Bursitis^*

WQP

1

One/several small bursae on the same leg or one large bursa

2

Several large bursae on the same leg or one extremely large or eroded bursa

Claw alterations^*

KTBL

1

Evidence of alterations (injured, bleeding erosion (side wall), cracks (heel, sole, sole/heel junction, side wall), panaritium)

Fever

Vet

1

Rectal temperature > 40 °C

Lameness^*

WQP

1

Severely lame, weight-bearing on affected limb

2

No weight-bearing on one limb or unable to walk

Neurological disorders

WQP

1

Evidence of neurological problem (head tilt)

Normal behavior

Vet

1

Abnormal behavior (lethargic)

Pumping

WQP

1

Evidence of labored breathing

Rectal prolapse

WQP

1

Evidence of rectal prolapse

Ruptures/hernias^*

WQP

1

Small hernia/rupture

2

Hernia/rupture touching the floor or with bleeding lesion