Pig Neonatal Welfare: Reducing Mortality in Farrowing Systems

Piglet mortality in the first week of life is a major welfare problem in commercial pig production. Understanding causes and solutions is essential for improving outcomes.

Key Facts

Pre-weaning mortality rates of 10-15% are common in intensive pig systems
Crushing by the sow is the leading cause of death in confined farrowing systems
Hypothermia, starvation, and disease account for most remaining mortality
Farrowing crates prevent sow movement but address crushing at the expense of sow welfare
Free farrowing systems with nest-building material achieve comparable mortality with better sow welfare
Supplemental heat lamps, colostrum management, and careful stockmanship reduce mortality

Welfare Considerations

Neonatal piglet welfare involves acute suffering from crushing, hypothermia, and starvation. Piglets that fail to access a teat in the first hours of life face slow starvation. Surviving crush injuries may result in neurological damage and chronic pain. The welfare of both sow and piglets must be balanced - farrowing crates protect piglets but severely restrict sow behaviour. Free farrowing systems with appropriate support show the greatest promise for overall welfare improvement.

What You Can Do

Support farms investing in free farrowing systems with nest material provision
Choose pork certified to standards covering farrowing system welfare for sows
Advocate for investment in free farrowing research and farmer transition support