Intensive Farming

Pig Respiratory Disease and Welfare

Enzootic pneumonia and other respiratory diseases are major welfare problems in pig production that prevention-focused management can reduce.

Key Facts

Enzootic pneumonia affects most pig herds causing chronic cough and reduced growth
Poor ventilation causing ammonia and dust exposure is the primary predisposing factor
Mycoplasma vaccination combined with ventilation improvements prevents most cases
Respiratory disease causes chronic discomfort affecting 20-30% of pigs in many herds

Welfare Considerations

Pigs with enzootic pneumonia experience chronic coughing, respiratory discomfort, and reduced capacity for normal behavior. The disease is endemic in most intensive units but its prevalence is manageable through ventilation improvements and vaccination. Operations that invest in respiratory health management achieve both welfare improvements and economic benefits from better growth performance.

What You Can Do

Support pork from operations with documented respiratory health management
Advocate for ventilation standards in pig welfare regulations
Buy from producers with transparent herd health reporting
Back research into pig housing design reducing respiratory disease