Body condition in breeding sows is a critical welfare indicator, with both overconditioned and underconditioned animals facing distinct welfare problems related to reproductive demands.
Sow body condition represents a welfare indicator where poor management creates a cycle of metabolic compromise. Sows enter farrowing in overconditioned state due to generous gestating rations, then experience severe catabolism during lactation to support milk production. The resulting thin body condition at weaning causes metabolic stress, delayed reproductive cycling, and compromised litter size - reducing productivity and welfare simultaneously. Feed competition in group gestation housing creates thinner subordinate sows and obese dominant sows, reflecting inadequate space or feeding system design. High sow mortality rates (typically from respiratory disease, prolapses, and lameness) are a measurable welfare outcome that integrates across multiple welfare dimensions and should be a primary benchmark for herd welfare assessment.