Outdoor farrowing allows sows to express natural nest-building behaviour. Understanding management requirements ensures welfare advantages are realised in practice.
Outdoor farrowing gives sows the freedom to express strongly motivated nest-building behaviour before birth. Sows provided with straw show calmer farrowing behaviour and better maternal responses than those in confinement. The welfare trade-off involves piglet crushing risk — larger sows in unrestricted arcs may lie on piglets in the first days after birth. Management solutions including larger arcs, farrowing rails and active monitoring in the first 48 hours reduce crushing while maintaining sow freedom. Hypothermia in very cold or wet weather requires appropriate bedding provision and monitoring.