How intensive reproductive pressure affects sow welfare and what systems can reduce this burden.
Commercial sow welfare is shaped by the intersection of intense reproductive pressure and management systems that rarely allow full physiological recovery between litters. The progressive depletion of body reserves through successive pregnancies and lactations creates compounding welfare challenges: lameness from mineral imbalance, reduced immune function from nutritional depletion, and behavioral changes associated with chronic physiological stress. Sow longevity — the ability to maintain good welfare and productivity across more parities — has become an important welfare and economic indicator in progressive pig farming. Systems that allow adequate recovery time, monitor body condition systematically, and remove sows from production before welfare is severely compromised serve both animal welfare and farm sustainability.