Farm Animals

Pig Ketosis and Nutritional Welfare

Nutritional welfare in sows encompasses management of body condition through gestation and lactation to prevent metabolic disease and suffering.

Key Facts

Sows in poor body condition at farrowing produce less colostrum, compromising piglet immunity
Over-fat sows at farrowing have more difficult births and reduced milk let-down
Body condition scoring throughout gestation guides feeding adjustments
High-producing sows can lose significant body reserves during lactation requiring nutritional support
Transition period nutrition immediately post-farrowing is critical for milk production

Welfare Considerations

Sow nutritional welfare through the reproductive cycle directly affects her own welfare and that of her piglets. Thin sows produce insufficient colostrum, compromising piglet immunity. Over-fat sows have difficult births. Maintaining optimal body condition through accurate nutrition management prevents both sow and piglet welfare costs.

What You Can Do

Support farms with active sow body condition scoring programmes
Advocate for sow nutritional management standards in pig welfare certification
Choose pork from certified farms with comprehensive reproductive welfare protocols