How to Keep Sows
Before bringing sows onto your property, you’ll need proper infrastructure and a realistic budget. I’ve found that skimping on initial setup almost always costs more in the long run through lost piglets, stressed animals, and constant repairs.
Housing and Facilities
Your sows need weatherproof housing with adequate space. For outdoor systems, you’ll need ark-style shelters (about 2.4m by 1.8m for each sow) that can be moved to fresh ground. Indoor systems require at least 6 square metres per sow in group housing, with separate farrowing pens of around 4 to 5 square metres. I’ve visited farms in Devon where they use converted stone barns brilliantly, whilst up in Scotland, purpose-built timber structures with good insulation work better against harsh winters. For more on this, see our guide on your first flock: a practical guide to keeping sheep.
Fencing must be robust. Pigs are remarkably strong and intelligent, so you’ll need either stock fencing with electric strands or purpose-built pig netting. Budget for posts every 2.5 to 3 metres, and corners need bracing. Water supply is critical too. Each sow drinks 15 to 20 litres daily, more during lactation, so you’ll need either automatic drinkers or a commitment to filling troughs twice daily.
Feed and Nutrition Equipment
Sow nutrition differs completely from growing pigs. You’ll need separate feed storage for dry sow ration, lactation feed, and possibly a flushing ration for pre-breeding. Storage must be vermin-proof, which means proper bins or a secure feed room. Individual feeding systems work best, whether that’s electronic sow feeders (expensive but efficient for larger herds) or simple individual stalls where you can monitor each sow’s intake.
Feeding troughs should be heavy enough that sows can’t flip them. I prefer rubber or heavy-duty plastic over metal, as they’re quieter and don’t get freezing cold in winter. You’ll also need measuring scoops or scales because precision matters. Overfeeding dry sows leads to farrowing difficulties, whilst underfeeding lactating sows destroys their body condition. You might also find from fields to healthy flocks: keeping lambs properly helpful.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Selecting and Acquiring Your Sows
Start by choosing a breed suited to your system and market. Traditional breeds like British Saddlebacks and Large Blacks suit outdoor systems beautifully and produce excellent meat for direct sales. Commercial hybrids give higher litter sizes but need more intensive management. I’ve seen smallholders near Herefordshire doing brilliantly with Tamworths in woodland systems, whilst intensive units in East Anglia favour commercial genetics.
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When buying sows, look for gilts (young females that haven’t farrowed) from health-monitored herds. Check their movement, legs, and feet carefully. Poor conformation means breeding problems later. Ask about the parents’ litter sizes and temperament. Aggressive sows are dangerous and difficult, whilst overly nervous animals often struggle with mothering. Always get proper movement paperwork and ensure animals are tagged correctly according to DEFRA regulations.
Setting Up Breeding Groups and Cycles
Sows cycle every 21 days when not pregnant. I’ve found batch farrowing, where you group sows to farrow within a week or two of each other, makes management far easier than having farrowings scattered throughout the year. You’ll need either a boar or access to artificial insemination. Keeping a boar means extra housing and feeding costs, but provides flexibility. AI requires training and equipment but gives access to superior genetics.
Introduce gilts to the boar gradually. Natural service usually happens over two to three days. Watch for standing heat (when the gilt stands still with pressure on her back). After service, separate her and mark your calendar. Gestation lasts approximately 115 days (the old saying goes: three months, three weeks, three days). Return her to a group if you’re using group housing, or keep her separate if that’s your system.
Managing Gestation
During pregnancy, sows need controlled feeding to maintain condition without getting fat. I typically feed 2 to 2.5 kilograms of a 13 to 14% protein dry sow ration daily, adjusted for body condition. Thin sows get more, fat sows get less. Handle sows regularly so they stay calm and used to human contact, which makes farrowing management much easier.
Around day 90, check teats for lumps or damage. At day 110, move her to the farrowing area. This gives her time to settle before piglets arrive. Increase feed slightly and switch to lactation ration a few days before expected farrowing. Clean and disinfect the farrowing area thoroughly. I use straw bedding in deep layers for warmth, though some prefer other materials.
Farrowing and Early Piglet Care
Watch for farrowing signs: restlessness, nest building, milk let-down. Farrowings usually take two to four hours. Stay nearby but don’t interfere unless necessary. As piglets arrive, clear membranes from faces, rub them dry if weather’s cold, and guide them to teats. Weak piglets need extra help and possibly a heat lamp.
Within 24 hours, ensure every piglet has suckled (they need colostrum). Check for injuries from the sow lying on them, a common cause of early losses. Teeth clipping isn’t necessary with traditional breeds but commercial units often do it to prevent teat damage. Tail docking and castration, if you’re doing them, happen in the first few days, though increasingly people leave boars entire if selling young.
Lactation Management and Weaning
Lactating sows eat enormous amounts. Start at around 2 kilograms on farrowing day and increase by 0.5 kilograms daily until she’s eating to appetite, often 6 to 8 kilograms or more depending on litter size. Fresh water constantly available is absolutely critical. Watch her condition, as losing too much weight affects her next breeding cycle.
Weaning age varies by system. Traditional smallholdings often wean at 8 weeks, whilst commercial units wean at 3 to 4 weeks. Later weaning is less stressful for piglets and easier on the sow’s body, though it extends your production cycle. At weaning, remove piglets and reduce the sow’s feed dramatically to dry her up. She should come into heat within a week, ready for rebreeding.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Overfeeding During Gestation
This is probably the most frequent error I see, particularly with first-time keepers. Fat sows have difficult farrowings, smaller litters, and reduced milk production. The temptation to be generous with feed is understandable, but a pregnant sow doesn’t need much. She’s growing piglets, not muscle. I’ve watched farms lose sows during farrowing because excessive fat made the birth process dangerous. Judge body condition honestly. You should feel her ribs with light pressure but not see them prominently.
Poor Parasite Management
Worms and external parasites devastate productivity. Sows with heavy worm burdens produce weak piglets and struggle with milk production. Mange causes misery and weight loss. Develop a proper worming schedule (typically before farrowing and a few times yearly otherwise) and watch for scratching or skin problems. Outdoor sows face higher parasite pressure, so moving them to clean ground helps tremendously. I’ve visited organic holdings in Wales where rotational grazing controls parasites without relying solely on chemical treatments.
Inadequate Attention During Farrowing
Leaving a sow completely unattended during farrowing costs piglet lives. Whilst sows usually manage fine, problems happen. Piglets stuck in the birth canal, very weak piglets that can’t find the teat, or sows that become distressed all need intervention. The best pig keepers I know adjust their schedules around expected farrowing dates. Setting an alarm to check every few hours overnight isn’t fun, but it saves lives.
Neglecting Record Keeping
Without records, you’re working blind. Which sows produce good litters? Which ones have repeated breeding problems? When did you last worm them? Proper records help you cull poor performers and identify patterns. I use a simple notebook system with a page per sow, recording service dates, farrowing dates, litter sizes, and any health issues. Digital systems work too, but consistency matters more than complexity.
Expert Tips
Maximising Piglet Survival
Getting more piglets through to weaning makes the difference between profit and loss. Temperature control matters enormously, especially with British weather. Heat lamps or heated pads in a creep area let piglets warm up without risking being crushed by the sow. I position these away from the sow’s main lying area. Split suckling, where you temporarily remove half the litter to let weaker piglets feed without competition, helps even out litter weights.
Colostrum intake in the first six hours is critical for immunity. Large litters may need supplementation. I’ve helped farms set up fostering systems where high-producing sows raise piglets from smaller litters or sows with problems. Some keepers freeze colostrum from good producers to have emergency supplies.
Optimising Breeding Efficiency
Return to service quickly after weaning by managing nutrition properly during lactation. Sows that lose excessive condition take longer to cycle. Flushing (increasing feed quality and quantity for 7 to 10 days before breeding) can increase ovulation rates slightly, though results vary. Pay attention to seasonal infertility. Sows naturally have reduced fertility during shorter daylight hours, so breeding in late summer and autumn often gives lower conception rates.
Keep detailed records of each sow’s performance over multiple parities (litters). First-time mothers usually have smaller litters and more problems. Performance typically peaks at parities three to five, then gradually declines. Cull sows that consistently underperform, have farrowing difficulties, or show poor mothering. Keeping unproductive animals wastes feed and space.
Adapting to Outdoor Systems
Outdoor sow keeping suits British conditions well with proper management. Move arks to fresh ground regularly, both for parasite control and to prevent the ground becoming a muddy mess. I’ve seen brilliant systems in Shropshire where sows rotate through woodland, benefiting from shade in summer and natural rooting whilst controlling brambles and weeds.
Electric fencing works well but check it daily. Pigs quickly learn when it’s not working. Provide wallows in summer, as pigs can’t sweat and suffer in heat. Even hardy traditional breeds struggle above 25 degrees. Mud wallows are traditional, but some farms use spray systems or shallow pools.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many piglets does a sow typically produce?
This varies considerably by breed and the sow’s age. Commercial hybrid sows often produce 12 to 14 piglets per litter, whilst traditional breeds like Tamworths or British Saddlebacks typically have 8 to 10 piglets. First-time mothers (gilts) usually have smaller litters than experienced sows. Performance peaks around the third to fifth litter, then gradually declines. Not all piglets survive to weaning, with typical survival rates of 85 to 90% being realistic targets. Factors affecting litter size include genetics, nutrition during the previous lactation, body condition at breeding, and the sow’s age. Keeping detailed records helps you identify your herd’s actual performance rather than relying on breed averages.
How much space does each sow require?
Space requirements depend on your housing system. For outdoor systems, each sow needs approximately 200 to 400 square metres of paddock space to prevent ground damage and allow natural behaviour. Indoor group housing requires at least 6 square metres per dry sow, whilst farrowing pens need 4 to 5 square metres. If you’re using individual farrowing arks outdoors, each needs an area of about 15 to 20 square metres around it for the sow and litter. British welfare standards mandate minimum spaces, but providing more room reduces stress and aggression. I’ve found that adequate space makes management easier and sows healthier, which more than compensates for keeping slightly fewer animals per acre.
What are the legal requirements for keeping sows?
You must register as a pig keeper with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) even if you’re only keeping one or two sows. Your holding gets a County Parish Holding (CPH) number, which you’ll need for all movements and medicine records. All pigs must be tagged and movement paperwork completed when they arrive or leave your property. Sows in indoor systems cannot be permanently confined in individual stalls except for short periods, such as during farrowing or when receiving veterinary treatment. You must keep medicine records for at least five years and maintain an up-to-date herd register. Movement standstills apply after bringing pigs onto your holding, restricting movement of other livestock. Regular inspections may occur to ensure welfare standards are met.
How long can you keep breeding a sow?
Most sows remain productive through five to seven litters, though some continue longer. Commercial operations typically cull sows after five or six parities to maintain herd productivity, whilst smallholders with traditional breeds sometimes keep favourite sows longer. Watch for declining litter sizes, increased farrowing difficulties, reduced milk production, or mobility problems. Older sows often make excellent mothers with calm temperaments, but if performance drops significantly, continuing to breed them becomes uneconomical. Body condition becomes harder to maintain in older sows, and they may need different nutrition management. The decision to cull should balance productivity against welfare. A sow struggling physically shouldn’t continue breeding regardless of her parity number. I’ve known farmers who retire particularly good-natured sows to pleasant pasture rather than sending them for slaughter, though that’s a personal choice.
What should you feed sows during different stages?
Nutrition changes dramatically through the breeding cycle. Dry sows (pregnant but not lactating) need 2 to 2.5 kilograms daily of a 13 to 14% protein ration, adjusted for body condition. Some keepers increase feed slightly in the last few weeks of pregnancy. Pre-breeding, flushing with 3 to 4 kilograms for 7 to 10 days may boost ovulation. During lactation, sows need 6 to 8 kilograms or more of an 18% protein lactation ration, fed to appetite, as they’re producing huge quantities of milk. After weaning, drastically reduce feed to help dry them up. Outdoor sows supplement their diet by rooting and grazing, so adjust accordingly. Fresh water constantly available is absolutely critical at all stages, particularly during lactation when sows drink 30 to 40 litres daily.
Can you keep just one sow or do they need company?
Pigs are social animals and generally do better with company, but single sows can thrive with proper management and regular human interaction. If keeping one sow, spend time with her daily to prevent boredom and ensure she remains calm and handleable. Many smallholders successfully keep a single sow, often with other livestock nearby for company. The main disadvantage is having all your eggs in one basket. If she fails to conceive, has a small litter, or develops problems, you’ve no backup. Keeping two or more sows lets you batch farrowings, provides company, and gives redundancy if one has issues. However, group dynamics can be challenging, particularly when introducing new animals or during feeding. Weigh up your time availability, space, and goals when deciding. A well-managed single sow beats a poorly managed group every time.
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Final Thoughts
Keeping sows successfully combines stockmanship, attention to detail, and willingness to adjust your life around their needs. The rewards go beyond economics. Watching a sow carefully tend her litter, seeing piglets thrive, and knowing you’re producing quality meat sustainably brings genuine satisfaction. British farming has a long tradition of pig keeping, and whether you’re working with two sows on a smallholding or managing a larger breeding herd, the fundamentals remain constant.
Start small if you’re new to this. One or two sows teach you the rhythms and demands before you scale up. Connect with experienced pig keepers locally. The pig keeping community is generally helpful, and there’s no substitute for seeing well-managed systems in person. Visit farms at different times of year to understand how seasonal challenges affect management.
Be realistic about time commitment. Farrowing times demand your presence. Daily feeding and checking can’t be skipped. Health problems need immediate attention. But if you’re prepared for the work, keeping sows offers a viable way to produce quality pork, maintain traditional breeds, or build a breeding enterprise. The learning never stops, each litter teaches something new, and that ongoing education is part of what makes sow keeping engaging year after year.
Author: Jack Bennett
Jack writes about practical farming, smallholding, and the realities of producing food in the British countryside. Having spent years around livestock, growers, and rural businesses, his articles focus on the honest side of agriculture. From keeping animals and growing crops to understanding the challenges farmers face, Jack’s work is grounded in real world knowledge and respect for the people who produce our food