Premature culling of sows for lameness, reproductive failure, and body condition problems represents a major, often underrecognised welfare problem in commercial pig production.
Premature sow culling represents both a production failure and a welfare indicator. Sows culled for lameness have experienced chronic pain prior to the culling decision — the culling itself is a welfare intervention preventing further suffering, but the lameness period represents welfare failure. High turnover herds with low average parity indicate systemic welfare problems with housing, management, or genetics. Investment in preventing lameness through flooring quality, body condition management, and housing that allows movement reduces premature culling and improves welfare throughout the sow's productive life. Longer-lived sows have better lifetime welfare outcomes.