Farm Animal Welfare

Farm Pig: Sow Body Condition Scoring

Body condition scoring (BCS) of sows is a fundamental welfare management tool, enabling targeted nutrition to prevent both obesity and excessive lean condition.

Key Facts

Sow BCS is assessed on a 1-5 scale, with 2.5-3.5 being optimal for most production stages
Thin sows (BCS below 2) show impaired reproductive performance and increased disease risk
Obese sows (BCS above 4) have increased farrowing difficulty and leg problems
BCS should be monitored at weaning, service, mid-pregnancy, and pre-farrowing
Individual feeding systems in group housing enable targeted supplementation of thin sows

Welfare Considerations

Sow condition directly reflects welfare - both extremes cause preventable suffering. Thin sows experience metabolic stress, reduced immunity, and reproductive failure. Obese sows have increased risk of lameness, heat stress, and dystocia. Regular BCS monitoring with responsive feeding management is a core component of good welfare stewardship.

What You Can Do

Train all stockpeople to accurately score sow body condition
Set targets for average BCS at key production stages
Review feeding rates for sows that are consistently below or above target
Use individual feeding systems or pre-weaning adjustments to address thin sows
Record BCS data to identify systematic nutrition problems in your system