Pre-weaning piglet mortality remains one of the most significant welfare and productivity challenges in modern pig farming, with crushing by sows being the leading cause of death.
Piglet mortality represents both a welfare failure for the individual piglets who suffer and die, and a welfare trade-off at the system level. Farrowing crates effectively reduce crushing but confine the sow for three to five weeks in a space she cannot turn around in, causing frustration, stereotypies, and distress. Free-farrowing alternatives such as PigSAFE pens and Comfort pens demonstrate that well-designed loose-housing systems can achieve crushing rates comparable to crates while greatly improving sow welfare. Addressing the root causes — including hyperprolific genetics producing non-viable or low-birth-weight piglets — requires genetic selection for litter viability, not just litter size. Staff training in colostrum management, split nursing, and early identification of at-risk piglets significantly improves outcomes.