Farmed Animals

Hospital Pens and Sick Pig Welfare

Hospital pens for sick and injured pigs are an important but often neglected welfare provision in commercial pig production.

Key Facts

Sick pigs in group housing are often bullied and unable to access food and water
Purpose-built hospital pens allow individual care of sick and injured pigs
RSPCA welfare standards require provision of suitable sick bay facilities
Failing to provide individual sick pen care is a welfare and legal compliance issue
Hospital pen design should allow easy observation, treatment, and nursing care

Welfare Considerations

Sick or injured pigs kept in group housing without hospital pen provision experience compounded welfare harm. They may be bullied, unable to compete for resources, and unable to receive individual treatment and nursing care. Well-designed hospital pens with access to food, water, bedding, and veterinary observation provide a welfare safety net for pigs that need individual care.

What You Can Do

Support welfare standards that require adequate hospital pen provision
Advocate for sick pig protocols as part of farm assurance certification
Raise awareness about hospital pen provision among pig farmers and advisers
Support farmer training in sick pig identification and individual care
Choose pork from assured farms that demonstrate adequate sick animal provision