Farrow-to-finish pig systems keep pigs from birth to slaughter on the same site, reducing transport stress and disease exposure. Understanding how system type affects welfare helps consumer choices.
The structure of pig production systems significantly affects welfare opportunities. Multi-site systems — where breeding, weaning, and finishing occur at different locations — require multiple transport events, regular regrouping of unfamiliar animals, and introduce disease between sites with different pathogen profiles. Farrow-to-finish systems avoid these stressors by keeping pigs on one site from birth to slaughter. This structural advantage supports welfare best practices: stable social groups, less pathogen mixing, and fewer transport stress events. The welfare case for farrow-to-finish systems is strongest when combined with good housing, enrichment, and low stocking density.