Evacuating pigs during emergencies requires advance planning because pigs are difficult to move under stress.
Pig emergency evacuation failures cause preventable suffering and death. Pigs that have never been loaded cannot be easily moved in emergency conditions — they refuse entry, cause injuries to themselves and handlers, and may not be evacuated in time. Farms with established emergency protocols including regular loading practice, pre-established transporter relationships and clear evacuation routes achieve far better outcomes. Emergency preparedness is a welfare investment with high returns when crisis strikes.