Farm Animals

Pig Sow Longevity Through Nutrition

Nutritional management of gestating and lactating sows directly affects their productive life span, leg health and long-term welfare.

Key Facts

Sows losing more than 10% body weight during lactation have reduced subsequent fertility
Inadequate calcium and phosphorus in gestation causes bone weakness and lameness
Energy-dense gestation diets maintain body condition but must be individually adjusted
Lactation feeding to appetite reduces body condition loss and extends productive life
Sows culled for poor body condition reflect nutritional management failures upstream

Welfare Considerations

Sow longevity is both a welfare and productivity measure. Nutrition that supports body condition and bone health through each reproductive cycle extends productive life and reduces replacement costs.

What You Can Do

Support farms with individual sow nutrition management during gestation and lactation
Advocate for body condition scoring as a mandatory welfare metric in sow herd management
Ask pork producers about their average sow parity at culling as a welfare indicator