Pig Mortality in Commercial Production: Welfare Indicators

Pre-weaning and post-weaning piglet mortality are key welfare indicators in commercial pig production that reveal systemic management problems.

Key Facts

Pre-weaning mortality averages 10-15% in commercial European pig production but ranges from 5-25%
Crushing by sows accounts for 50-60% of pre-weaning deaths, often in systems with inadequate creep areas
Starvation from inadequate milk supply or teat competition is the second leading cause of pre-weaning death
Post-weaning mortality from enteric disease and respiratory infection averages 2-5% in commercial systems
Farms with high mortality rates have demonstrably worse welfare outcomes across multiple indicators

Welfare Considerations

Each mortality event represents a welfare failure - the death of an individual who suffered from crushing, starvation, disease, or other causes. High mortality rates signal systemic problems including inadequate farrowing environments, poor colostrum management, and disease control failures. Pre-weaning deaths are not just production losses but represent animals who lived and died in pain or deprivation. Benchmarking mortality rates and investigating farms with high rates creates accountability for welfare outcomes that are otherwise easy to normalize as industry standard. Welfare-centered farrowing management including appropriate crate or loose housing design, creep area provision, and stockperson skill development substantially reduces preventable mortality.

What You Can Do

Support farm animal welfare legislation setting maximum mortality rate benchmarks with investigation requirements
Choose pork from audited farms demonstrating low mortality rates as a welfare outcome indicator
Advocate for mandatory mortality reporting in commercial pig production
Donate to research improving farrowing management to reduce preventable pre-weaning mortality