Farrowing Monitoring in Pigs: Welfare at Birth

Intensive monitoring during farrowing significantly reduces piglet mortality and sow welfare complications in both indoor and outdoor pig production.

Key Facts

Average farrowing duration is 2-4 hours but can extend to 8+ hours in difficult cases
Stillbirth and early piglet mortality account for 15-20% of piglets born in commercial farms
Intrapartum stillbirths from prolonged delivery are a major welfare and production concern
Farrowing attendance allows early intervention for dystocia and struggling piglets
Piglets born last are at highest risk of stillbirth due to umbilical cord rupture
Oxytocin use is common but should be judicious - overuse can cause uterine rupture
Sow body condition, pen design, and pre-farrowing behavior affect farrowing outcomes

Welfare Considerations

Farrowing is a vulnerable period for both sow and piglets. Sows in pain from prolonged or complicated deliveries suffer acutely. Piglets that survive but are weak from difficult birth face cold stress, competition for colostrum, and crushing risk. Attended farrowing with trained staff who can intervene appropriately - assisting difficult deliveries, ensuring weak piglets access colostrum, and monitoring for hemorrhage or retained placentas - meaningfully improves welfare outcomes for hundreds of individual animals.

What You Can Do

Ensure trained staff attend farrowing or check sows at least every 2 hours during labor
Record farrowing duration and intervene if active straining without delivery exceeds 30-45 minutes
Ensure all piglets receive colostrum within 12 hours of birth
Maintain farrowing area temperature gradient to prevent crushing and cold stress
Keep records of stillbirth rates and difficult farrowings to identify management improvements