Abstract Genetic selection for increased litter size has resulted in a concomitant increase in stillborn rates in modern genetic lines. In commercial farms, pre-parturient sows are typically fed during daytime hours with a high percentage of farrowings occurring unassisted overnight. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine if feeding time can influence the onset of parturition to better align with farm staff hours and increase available assistance. A total of 1,016 sows were used in a commercial farm in Nebraska, USA, to determine the impact of pre-farrow meal time on onset of parturition. Sows were assigned to either control (0700) or alternative (0200) feeding treatments upon entry to farrowing room (~d112 of gestation) and all sows received 2.23 kg daily. Daily feeding time and quantity was controlled with the use of electronic feeders (Gestal SOLO; JYGA Technologies, Inc.). Farrowings had 24 hr monitoring with traits recorded including onset (ON), duration (DUR), piglet interval (PI), and stillborn percentage (SB). The linear model function (lm) in RStudio was used for regression estimates. Alternative sows farrowed earlier (P < 0.05; 1204 vs. 1256 hr) than control-fed sows. Alternative sows also tended to have shorter DUR (P < 0.10; 6.05 vs. 6.19 hr) and narrower PI times (P < 0.10; 22.98 vs. 24.13 min) than control-fed sows. Stillborn percentage decreased (P < 0.05; 8.53 vs. 9.68%) in alternative sows compared to control-fed sows. Combining ON and DUR, we calculated farrowing completion. Alternative fed sows finished parturition earlier (P < 0.05; 1813 vs. 1929 hr) than control fed sows. These results suggest that the alternative strategy can result in earlier onsets, shorter piglet interval and farrowing duration, and a lower stillborn rate when compared to those fed the control strategy and should especially be of interest to farms without labor for 24hr farrowing assistance.