Selective breeding for large litter sizes in pigs has created welfare trade-offs between sow prolificacy and piglet survival. Addressing these requires both genetic and management approaches.
The welfare implications of hyperprolificacy selection in pigs demonstrate how production trait selection can create unintended welfare problems. Piglets born into very large litters compete intensely for teat access — smaller, lighter piglets may fail to secure adequate colostrum, which provides both nutrition and passive immunity. Starvation and crushing mortality in large litters cause millions of piglet deaths annually, representing significant suffering at scale. Genetic selection programs that balance litter size with birth weight, teat number, and maternal behavior create more welfare-compatible productivity. Management programs providing assisted suckling, colostrum supplementation for lighter piglets, and nurse sow fostering reduce mortality and improve welfare for piglets in large litters.