High culling rates in commercial pig breeding sows reflect both welfare problems and production priorities, with longevity directly related to sow welfare outcomes.
Short productive life in sows reflects a system where welfare problems lead to premature removal rather than treatment. Sows that limp or fail to cycle are culled rather than managed, meaning their welfare problems are often invisible in farm statistics. Extending sow longevity through improved floor design, housing and proactive health management simultaneously improves welfare and reduces replacement costs.