Breeding sows and boars are typically fed below their voluntary intake to control weight and reproductive performance, creating a state of chronic hunger that is one of the most significant welfare issues in pig production.
Feed restriction in gestating sows creates one of the most sustained and clearly documented welfare problems in commercial pig production. Sows restrict-fed at 50-70% of voluntary intake show persistent feeding motivation, increased aggression around feeding, and behavioral signs of hunger throughout their 16-week pregnancies. The welfare harm is not the momentary discomfort of restricted feeding but the chronic state of unsatisfied hunger across multiple pregnancies throughout a sow productive life. High-fiber diet strategies that provide satiety without caloric excess offer a practical solution — reducing hunger without compromising the production objectives that drive restriction. Implementing such strategies represents a welfare improvement achievable without sacrificing production.