Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Sow Body Condition Management

Sow body condition management through gestation and lactation critically affects welfare, with excessive weight loss during lactation causing metabolic disease and reduced immune function.

Key Facts

Lactating sows can lose 30-40kg during a 28-day lactation feeding large litters
Excessive body condition loss causes lameness, reproductive failure, and immune suppression
Modern high-milking sow genetics are particularly prone to body condition cycling problems
Targeted feeding in gestation using individual electronic feeders maintains optimal condition
Body condition score should be assessed regularly with targeted intervention for thin sows

Welfare Considerations

Body condition loss in lactating sows causes physical discomfort, reduced immune function, and long-term health consequences. Proactive body condition management throughout the reproductive cycle is essential for sow welfare and productive longevity.

What You Can Do

Advocate for sow welfare standards that include body condition score monitoring requirements
Support genetic selection that balances milk production capacity with sow health traits
Choose pork from producers using individual sow feeding systems and BCS monitoring