Piglet mortality in the first week of life is a major welfare concern in commercial pig production, with management practices significantly affecting survival rates.
Neonatal piglet welfare involves multiple competing considerations: farrowing crates prevent crushing but deny the sow natural nesting and maternal behavior; large litter sizes created by selection for prolificacy create competition that some piglets lose fatally; and early weaning denies piglets the full maternal social and immunological support of natural weaning age. The welfare-conscious approach seeks systems that protect piglets from crushing while allowing greater sow behavioral freedom, appropriate litter sizes for sow capacity, and adequate nutrition for all piglets through active management.