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The U.S. swine industry continues to face alarmingly high mortality rates across all production phases. From the 2014 PEDv outbreak to the rise in uterine prolapses among sows in 2016–2017, losses have remained significant: currently, around 35% of piglets born do not reach the human food chain. In response, the National Pork Board launched the Improving Pig Survivability project to address pig mortality through research, education, and outreach.
The initiative, launched in 2019 with funding from Pork Checkoff and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, brought together experts from institutions such as Iowa State University, Kansas State University, and Purdue University. Over the first five years, the project generated more than 170 outreach and scientific materials, including videos, factsheets, conference talks, and peer-reviewed publications. Dozens of students were trained and are now joining the swine industry.
Key strategies have been identified to reduce mortality at various production stages. For sows, these include body condition monitoring during late gestation, early lameness intervention, targeted pre-farrowing feeding strategies, and perineal scoring to predict and prevent prolapses. In farrowing, best practices involve ensuring adequate colostrum intake, environmental enrichment with milky ropes, and specific feeding regimens. In the wean-to-finish (WTF) phase, six main strategies have proven effective: improving sow farm health, genetic selection, post-weaning enrichment, optimized pellet and mat feeding, sensory attractants, and use of dietary essential fatty acids.
Since the overall mortality rate has not yet declined significantly, the project has been extended through 2026 with new funding and a focus on four key pillars: reducing mortality in sow farms, improving preweaning survival, enhancing WTF outcomes, and strengthening nationwide outreach. The second International Conference on Pig Survivability is scheduled for November 2025 in Omaha, Nebraska.
According to Dr. Chris Hostetler, director of animal science at NPB, one of the project’s most important results is the training of a new generation of veterinarians, nutritionists, and welfare specialists who will shape the future of pig care in the U.S.
June 17, 2025/ Pork Checkoff/ United States.
https://www.aasv.org
