Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Litter Homogenisation and Survival

Litter homogenisation through fostering aims to improve neonatal piglet survival - welfare implications require careful management.

Key Facts

Fostering aims to match litter sizes to sow teat numbers for optimal nursing
Moving piglets within the first 24 hours before teat preferences are established reduces stress
Cross-fostering between litters requires careful biosecurity management
Nurse sow systems use weaned sows to care for extra piglets from large litters
Pre-weaning mortality is the primary welfare target that homogenisation addresses

Welfare Considerations

Neonatal piglet mortality is a major welfare problem in modern high-prolific genetics. Litter management including strategic fostering reduces mortality and starvation, but must be conducted carefully to minimise stress to both piglets and sows.

What You Can Do

Advocate for pre-weaning mortality as a mandatory welfare metric in farm assurance
Support research into management practices that reduce neonatal piglet suffering
Engage with breeding companies about balancing litter size with survivability