Piglet mortality in the first 72 hours is one of the most significant welfare and production challenges in pig farming. Colostrum access in the first hours of life is critical for survival.
Newborn piglet suffering from starvation, hypothermia, and crushing represents a major welfare challenge in pig production. Piglets that survive the first days but with inadequate colostrum have compromised immunity and suffer more from disease throughout their lives. Welfare improvements require attentive stockmanship during farrowing periods, appropriate farrowing environments that balance sow freedom with piglet protection, and targeted interventions for compromised piglets. The welfare tension between sow freedom (farrowing crates restrict movement) and piglet safety (sow freedom increases crushing) requires careful system design that serves both.