Outdoor pig farrowing in cold conditions requires active management to protect newborn piglet welfare from hypothermia, which is the primary cause of mortality in outdoor farrowing systems.
Outdoor pig farrowing in cold conditions is a welfare balance that is managed through housing design, bedding management, and seasonal planning rather than avoiding outdoor systems entirely. Deep straw bedding in appropriately sized farrowing huts creates a microclimate that retains sow body heat effectively. Small entrance holes prevent cold air infiltration while allowing sow exit. Monitoring newborn piglets in the first 24 hours after farrowing — the highest risk period — and providing additional warming for hypothermic piglets prevents deaths. Seasonal farrowing planning that avoids the coldest months significantly reduces piglet cold stress while maintaining the welfare benefits of outdoor farrowing for sows.