Pig Neonatal Welfare and Colostrum Management

The first hours and days of life are critical for piglet welfare. Colostrum intake, body temperature management, and early nutrition determine survival and lifetime health outcomes.

Key Facts

Piglets are born with minimal fat reserves and no passive immunity, making colostrum critical
Up to 20% of piglets die before weaning in conventional commercial systems
Hypothermia is a major cause of pre-weaning mortality, especially in large litters
Sow milk letdown begins 12-24 hours after farrowing, with colostrum available only briefly
Piglet birth weight below 800g is associated with dramatically higher mortality and welfare risk
Heat lamp provision in farrowing accommodation reduces hypothermia mortality substantially

Welfare Considerations

Neonatal piglet welfare depends critically on colostrum intake and temperature management in the hours after birth. Large litters from modern highly prolific sow genetics mean more piglets than teats in many cases, increasing competition and the risk of some piglets failing to suckle adequately. Active supervision during farrowing, assistance for weak piglets, and appropriate heat provision significantly reduce mortality and improve welfare outcomes for the most vulnerable animals on the farm.

What You Can Do

Support farms with documented neonatal welfare protocols including piglet supervision
Advocate for breeding goals that balance litter size with individual piglet viability
Choose pork products from farms with low pre-weaning mortality rates where data is available
Donate to research on neonatal pig welfare and colostrum management best practice
Support stockperson training programmes focused on farrowing and neonatal care skills