Farm Animals

Farmed Pig Farrowing Supervision and Welfare

The welfare benefits of farrowing supervision and skilled stockperson involvement at farrowing.

Key Facts

Supervised farrowing reduces piglet mortality by identifying and assisting problem births
Skilled stockpeople can resuscitate piglets and ensure early colostrum intake
Round-the-clock farrowing supervision is associated with significantly lower piglet mortality
Automated farrowing alarms alert staff to births outside normal monitoring hours
Investment in farrowing supervision training and staffing delivers welfare and economic returns

Welfare Considerations

Skilled farrowing supervision is one of the highest-impact interventions for neonatal pig welfare, reducing preventable deaths and suffering in the most vulnerable period of piglet life.

What You Can Do

Support farmer training in farrowing supervision and neonatal piglet care
Advocate for staffing ratio requirements that enable adequate farrowing supervision
Choose pork from farms with good piglet survival records indicating strong supervision