Respiratory Disease and Welfare in Commercial Pigs

Respiratory disease is one of the most significant welfare burdens in intensive pig farming, closely linked to housing conditions.

Key Facts

Respiratory disease accounts for approximately 50% of all antibiotic use in pig farming
Enzootic pneumonia and PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome) are the leading causes
Ammonia from pig waste causes respiratory tract damage that predisposes to infection
Adequate ventilation reduces respiratory disease incidence by 40-60% in well-designed systems
Outdoor and deep-litter systems have significantly lower respiratory disease rates than slatted indoor housing

Welfare Considerations

Respiratory disease in pigs causes chronic welfare suffering: coughing, laboured breathing, reduced activity, and impaired immunity creating cascading secondary infections. The primary cause — ammonia from inadequate slurry management and poor ventilation — is an environmental welfare failure rather than an inevitable disease burden. Buildings designed to maintain ammonia below 10ppm, with appropriate air changes and humidity control, dramatically reduce respiratory welfare costs. The connection to antibiotic use means respiratory welfare improvement delivers both animal welfare and antimicrobial resistance benefits.

What You Can Do

Support pig welfare standards with specific ventilation and ammonia monitoring requirements
Advocate for building design standards that mandate respiratory health management
Choose pork from farms with documented low antibiotic use — a proxy for respiratory health
Support research into cost-effective ventilation improvements for existing pig housing
Learn about the connection between pig housing conditions and respiratory disease welfare impacts