Intensive Pig Farming: An Overview of Welfare Issues

Intensive pig production involves a range of welfare challenges that have been extensively studied, with evidence-based solutions available but not yet widely implemented.

Key Facts

Around 10 million pigs are slaughtered in the UK annually, most from intensive systems
Key welfare problems include barren environments, tail biting, gestation crates, and farrowing crates
UK pig welfare standards are among the highest in the world but significant gaps remain
The RSPCA Freedom Foods scheme for pigs requires specific enrichment and space allowances
Consumer demand for higher welfare pork is growing but remains a minority of the market

Welfare Considerations

Intensive pig farming involves multiple concurrent welfare challenges: barren environments frustrating rooting motivation; high stocking densities increasing aggression; gestation crates severely restricting sow movement; farrowing crates preventing nesting behaviour; and abrupt weaning causing distress to sows and piglets. These are not inevitable features of pig production but consequences of prioritising efficiency. Higher welfare systems demonstrating that commercially viable pork production can avoid all of these problems exist but require consumer and policy support to scale.

What You Can Do

Choose RSPCA Assured, Organic, or Free Range pork products
Contact supermarkets asking about their pig welfare improvement timelines
Support Compassion in World Farming campaigns for EU and global pig welfare standards
Reduce pig meat consumption or substitute with plant-based alternatives
Engage with the Better Life Label and similar transparent welfare rating systems