Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Welfare and Night Farrowing Supervision

Piglet mortality peaks at night when supervision is reduced. Improved night farrowing management including technology-enabled monitoring significantly reduces neonatal mortality and welfare harm.

Key Facts

Most piglet deaths occur in the first 72 hours, with higher mortality during unsupervised periods
Camera monitoring systems enable overnight farrowing surveillance without keeper presence
Alert systems notify staff of piglet distress enabling timely intervention
Some farms have introduced overnight lambing checks reducing mortality
Targeted night supervision for high-risk sows reduces mortality most efficiently

Welfare Considerations

Night farrowing supervision is a high-impact welfare intervention that reduces piglet mortality during the period of highest vulnerability. Technology enables effective monitoring without prohibitive labour costs.

What You Can Do

Support farms investing in farrowing monitoring technology
Advocate for farrowing supervision standards in pig welfare certification
Learn about the welfare case for improved night farrowing management
Choose welfare-certified pork from farms with verified farrowing welfare protocols