Pig gestation and farrowing management profoundly affects the welfare of sows and their offspring during one of the most critical periods of productive life.
Farrowing is the highest-risk period of a sow's productive life: the physical demands of parturition, the vulnerability of newborn piglets, and the risk of post-partum complications all concentrate at this critical time. Dystocia causes acute pain and distress for the sow and hypoxia risk for piglets if birth is prolonged. Close monitoring during farrowing allows early intervention for dystocic cases, reducing both sow pain and piglet mortality. The balance between sow thermal comfort (cooler temperatures) and piglet warmth requirements (supplemental heating areas) must be carefully managed. Post-farrowing monitoring for metritis, mastitis, and agalactia (MMA syndrome) prevents welfare compromise from systemic infection that would affect both sow health and piglet nutrition.