Farmed Pig Welfare and Piglet Mortality Reduction

Neonatal piglet mortality is a major welfare issue in intensive pig farming, with the first 72 hours being the critical welfare period requiring attentive management.

Key Facts

Neonatal piglet mortality averages 10 to 15 percent in commercial systems but can reach 25 percent
Crushing by the sow is the leading cause of death in free farrowing systems
Hypothermia from wet, cold piglets in inadequate heat provision kills thousands of piglets annually
Colostrum intake in the first 6 hours is critical for passive immunity and survival
Experienced, attentive stockpeople dramatically reduce neonatal mortality compared to infrequent checks

Welfare Considerations

Neonatal piglet mortality is a welfare challenge with two dimensions: the suffering of dying piglets and the suffering of sows from repeated pregnancy loss and the acute distress of experiencing piglet deaths. High-quality farrowing management — with appropriate heat provision, supervision during farrowing, skilled fostering to balance litter sizes, and rapid intervention for struggling piglets — dramatically reduces mortality. The welfare case and the productivity case align perfectly here: fewer dead piglets means better economics and better welfare simultaneously.

What You Can Do

Support pig farms with verified high-quality farrowing supervision and piglet mortality reduction programs
Advocate for minimum stockperson to sow ratios during farrowing periods in welfare standards
Ask pork producers about their neonatal mortality rates as a welfare indicator
Support research into farrowing pen designs that reduce crushing without eliminating free movement