Farm Animals

Pig Welfare: Feeding Motivation and Hunger

Understanding pig feeding motivation and hunger is essential for welfare assessment, particularly in sows where feed restriction is common.

Key Facts

Sows in gestation are routinely fed 50-60% of ad libitum intake to prevent obesity
Feed restriction causes persistent hunger demonstrated by food-seeking stereotypies
Measuring hunger in pigs uses behavioural and cognitive bias tests to assess affective state
High-fibre diets increase satiety without increasing caloric intake, reducing hunger-based welfare problems

Welfare Considerations

Hunger is a welfare-relevant negative affective state that is chronically induced in gestating sows by feed restriction practices. High-fibre diets that increase satiety while maintaining appropriate body condition offer a welfare-aligned alternative to conventional restricted feeding.

What You Can Do

Support pork producers using high-fibre gestation diets to reduce sow hunger
Advocate for sow hunger to be recognised as a welfare indicator in pig welfare standards
Engage with research on satiety-promoting dietary approaches for gestating sows