Pig Farming

Pig Farrowing Supervision and Neonatal Welfare

Active farrowing supervision is one of the highest-impact welfare interventions on pig farms, reducing neonatal mortality significantly.

Key Facts

Peak piglet mortality from crushing and starvation occurs in the first 24 hours
Sow vocalisations during farrowing indicate when intervention may be needed
Drying piglets and ensuring colostrum intake in the first hour dramatically reduces mortality
Hypothermic piglets require warming before they can suckle effectively
Night-time farrowing supervision requires staffing investment but yields high welfare returns

Welfare Considerations

Piglets that are crushed, starved, or hypothermic in the first 24 hours experience significant suffering. The welfare benefit of preventing these deaths is high, and the intervention required - supervision and assistance during farrowing - is both effective and practical. Farms that invest in around-the-clock farrowing supervision during peak periods achieve dramatically lower neonatal mortality and better piglet welfare outcomes.

What You Can Do

Support pig welfare standards requiring farrowing supervision protocols
Advocate for 24-hour supervision during peak farrowing as a welfare standard
Choose pork from farms with documented low neonatal mortality rates