The finishing phase is the final stage of pig production before slaughter, and welfare during this period is shaped by stocking density, group stability, enrichment access, and air quality management.
Finishing pigs face cumulative welfare pressures as increasing body weight creates greater competition for space, feeders, and lying areas. Crowding increases the frequency of aggressive interactions and reduces time spent in positive behaviors. Poor air quality from ammonia and particulates damages lung tissue and causes respiratory disease. Tail biting outbreaks, while preventable through management, cause painful injuries and secondary infections when they occur. The finishing phase ends in transport and slaughter, adding acute stressors. Welfare standards that specify enrichment, stocking density, and air quality requirements during finishing, combined with stockperson training in positive handling and observation skills, produce measurable welfare improvements across this critical period.