The welfare of sows across multiple reproductive cycles is a central issue in pig production, with each phase presenting distinctive challenges and opportunities for improvement.
Sows pushed for maximum reproductive output across multiple years face cumulative welfare burdens from successive gestations, lactations, and weanings. Lameness, body condition loss, and reproductive failure compound over cycles. Systems that prioritise sow longevity and welfare alongside productivity produce sows with better lifetime welfare outcomes. Breeding for robustness and housing that supports natural behaviour are key interventions.