Farm Animals

Pig Farrowing Supervision and Neonatal Care

The importance of close supervision during farrowing to reduce neonatal piglet mortality and support sow welfare.

Key Facts

Piglet mortality during and shortly after farrowing accounts for 10-20% of live-born pigs
Hypothermia and starvation are leading causes of neonatal piglet death
Night farrowing occurs frequently and overnight supervision is challenging on many farms
Split suckling management ensures small piglets access the udder and colostrum
Technology including farrowing alert systems can notify stockpeople when birth begins

Welfare Considerations

Neonatal piglet death represents both significant welfare failure and economic loss. Many deaths are preventable with timely human intervention. Investing in farrowing supervision is one of the highest-impact welfare improvements available to pig producers.

What You Can Do

Support pig welfare standards that include neonatal mortality targets
Advocate for investment in farrowing alert technologies on commercial pig farms
Choose pork from certified farms with documented neonatal management programs