How selective breeding for large litters creates piglet welfare challenges and what farms can do to address them.
Selective breeding for maximum litter size has created a pig welfare problem that operates at both the sow and piglet level. Sows producing very large litters face greater metabolic demands, increased farrowing difficulty, and body condition deterioration through lactation. Piglets born in overlarge litters compete intensively for functional teats, with the smallest individuals often failing to thrive or dying from starvation or crushing. This welfare problem is a direct consequence of breeding decisions that prioritized production metrics over welfare outcomes. Progressive breeding programs now evaluate total litter weight and individual piglet birth weight rather than litter number alone, and husbandry interventions that support adequate colostrum access for all piglets reduce the immediate welfare impact.