Selection for hyperprolific sows producing very large litters has created serious welfare problems for both sows and piglets in commercial swine production.
The hyperprolific sow represents a case where genetic selection for production traits has outpaced welfare considerations. Piglets born below a viable weight threshold experience poor welfare from birth — inability to compete for teats, hypothermia, and starvation. Sow welfare suffers through excessive reproductive demand. Welfare-forward breeding programs balance litter size with piglet viability, sow body condition maintenance, and functional teat number, recognizing that sustainability of the breeding female matters as much as per-litter productivity.