Neonatal piglet mortality from hypothermia and crushing is a major welfare and production challenge. Evidence-based interventions significantly reduce deaths in the first 72 hours of life.
Neonatal piglet mortality represents suffering not just in death but in the cold, hungry, hypothermic state that precedes it. Piglets that ultimately survive crushing attempts may experience significant trauma. Well-designed farrowing accommodation with appropriate temperature management, supervised farrowing for high-risk sows, and prompt intervention for weak piglets can substantially reduce both mortality and the welfare cost of the dying process.