The first hours of a piglet's life are critical for welfare, with colostrum intake and thermal comfort determining survival and long-term health.
Neonatal piglet welfare depends critically on adequate colostrum intake and thermal management in the first hours and days of life. Piglets that fail to receive colostrum lack passive immunity and are highly susceptible to infection. Hypothermic piglets become too weak to compete for the teat and die without intervention. Close monitoring and active management during farrowing protects both welfare and productivity.