Commercial sow longevity in intensive pig production is typically only 3-4 reproductive cycles before culling, with health problems from intensive reproductive management causing welfare suffering and early removal from the herd.
Sow longevity is both a welfare indicator and a welfare issue in its own right. Short productive lives resulting from health problems indicate that management systems are creating welfare costs that drive premature removal. Hyperprolific genetics that maximize litter size create metabolic demands that impair sow welfare through muscle wastage, bone loss, and immune suppression during lactation. Welfare-focused breeding and management systems that prioritize sow health and longevity rather than maximum short-term productivity achieve better lifetime welfare outcomes alongside improved economic performance through reduced replacement costs.