🐷 Pig Respiratory Disease & Welfare 2025

Overview

Respiratory disease is the most common cause of pig mortality and suffering in commercial production. Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (enzootic pneumonia), swine influenza, and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) cause acute and chronic lung disease that significantly compromises welfare. Understanding the welfare dimensions of respiratory disease motivates improved prevention and treatment programs.

Welfare Impact of Respiratory Disease

Pigs with respiratory disease experience multiple welfare harms simultaneously:

• Dyspnea (breathing difficulty): Chronic cough, labored breathing, and hypoxia cause significant discomfort
• Fever and malaise: Acute infection causes fever, lethargy, and reduced social engagement
• Pain: Pleuritis (pleural inflammation) causes pain on breathing and movement
• Reduced feed intake: Sick pigs eat less, causing nutritional stress and slower recovery
• Social exclusion: Slow-growing sick pigs may be bullied and excluded from feeding

Prevention & Welfare

Respiratory disease prevention through biosecurity, vaccination, and air quality management simultaneously reduces welfare harm and improves production. All-in-all-out management prevents pathogen buildup between groups. Effective ventilation systems maintaining ammonia below 20 ppm and CO2 below 3,000 ppm reduce respiratory irritation dramatically. PRRS vaccination and gilt acclimatization programs reduce the severity and welfare impact of PRRS outbreaks.