The number of piglets dying at birth is reduced by providing a motion or weight sensor in a farrowing crate at the piglet area thereof so that, when the sow is expected to give birth, the motion sensor is located in the crate at a location to detect motion of one or more piglets after birth and, on detection of motion of the one or more piglets, causing the motion sensor to wirelessly communicate a signal to a pager carried by an operator indicating to the operator that birth of piglets is in progress.