Sow Welfare Metrics: Measuring What Matters

Specific welfare metrics for breeding sows enable farms to identify and address welfare problems in this high-risk production group.

Key Facts

Sows are among the most welfare-compromised animals in commercial pig production
Key welfare indicators for sows include body condition score, shoulder sore prevalence, lameness, and longevity
Average sow longevity of 3-4 parities indicates significant culling pressure and welfare turnover
Shoulder sores occur in up to 30-40% of sows in some systems during lactation
Group housing for gestating sows, required in the EU since 2013, improves welfare but requires good management
Sow mortality rates above 5-8% per year suggest significant welfare problems
Reproductive performance data (litter size, farrowing rate) reflects but does not substitute for welfare measurement

Welfare Considerations

Sows face unique welfare pressures in production systems - high reproductive demands, periods of restricted movement, and physical wear from repeated pregnancy and lactation. Welfare metrics that capture the physical state of individual sows - shoulder sores, lameness, BCS - tell a different story from aggregate production data. Farms that monitor and act on sow welfare indicators produce better animal welfare outcomes and typically also improve longevity and production efficiency.

What You Can Do

Implement regular body condition scoring and shoulder sore assessment for all sows
Set welfare benchmarks for sow lameness, mortality, and shoulder sore prevalence
Participate in industry welfare benchmarking programs that include sow-specific metrics
Provide adequate bedding in farrowing crates to prevent pressure sores
Extend average sow longevity as a welfare improvement target alongside production goals