On-Farm Livestock Mortality: Welfare and Economics

How on-farm mortality rates reveal underlying welfare problems and how monitoring mortality can drive welfare improvements.

Key Facts

Broiler on-farm mortality averages 3-5% in conventional systems but can reach 10%+ in poor conditions
Pig pre-weaning mortality averages 10-15% globally due to crushing and disease
Dairy cow mortality rates of 5-6% per year indicate significant welfare problems
High mortality is correlated with poor management, disease pressure, and inadequate housing
Mortality rate is a key welfare indicator in several certification schemes

Welfare Considerations

On-farm mortality is both a welfare outcome and a welfare indicator. Each death represents an animal that has suffered and died prematurely. High mortality rates indicate systemic welfare problems - poor nutrition, disease burden, inadequate housing, or management failure - that affect surviving animals as well. Yet mortality rates are often treated primarily as economic indicators rather than welfare indicators, with only extreme rates triggering concern. Using mortality rate as a genuine welfare signal, alongside behavioral and health measures, provides a more complete welfare picture.

What You Can Do

Support certification schemes that use mortality rate as a key welfare indicator
Advocate for mandatory mortality reporting in commercial livestock production
Choose products from farms demonstrating low mortality rates and explaining their management approach
Support research linking mortality causes to specific welfare improvements
Raise mortality rate as a welfare concern with food companies and retailers