Sow longevity and reproductive welfare are closely linked — farms that invest in sow welfare achieve better reproductive performance and longer productive lives.
Sow welfare across the reproductive cycle requires thinking beyond individual procedures to the cumulative welfare impact of repeated pregnancies, lactations, and housing transitions across a productive life. Short productive lives — the industry norm — reflect welfare failures that accelerate through inadequate flooring, poor nutrition management, and housing that does not meet behavioral needs. Farms investing in sow longevity programs — better flooring, group housing, individual nutrition monitoring, and proactive lameness management — report improved reproductive performance alongside better welfare. The economics and welfare of sow management are aligned when measured across a full productive life rather than a single reproductive cycle.