Farm Animal Welfare

Neonatal Piglet Hypothermia and Mortality

Neonatal piglet hypothermia is a major cause of preweaning mortality, with thermal management being a key welfare intervention in pig production.

Key Facts

Piglets are born with minimal fat reserves and limited thermoregulation capacity
Thermoneutral zone for newborn piglets is 30-34 degrees Celsius
Supplementary heat lamps, creep areas and floor heating reduce hypothermia mortality
Piglet crushing by sows is exacerbated by cold-induced huddling near the sow
Genetic selection for large litter sizes increases proportion of low-birthweight piglets at risk

Welfare Considerations

Hypothermia is a preventable cause of suffering and death in neonatal piglets. Adequate supplementary heating, especially for smaller piglets and those in large litters, substantially reduces mortality. Hyper-prolific breeding lines increase the welfare challenge.

What You Can Do

Support pig farms that use appropriate neonatal thermal management
Advocate for hyper-prolific breeding practices to be included in welfare audits
Choose certified higher-welfare pork that includes sow and piglet welfare standards