Biosecurity practices on pig farms prevent disease introduction and spread, protecting both pig welfare and farm viability. Good biosecurity is a fundamental welfare management tool.
Disease outbreaks on pig farms cause significant acute suffering — PRRS outbreaks kill large numbers of young pigs through respiratory failure, cause late-term abortion storms, and create weeks of intensive sick pig management. Preventing disease introduction through rigorous biosecurity protects pig welfare at scale. All-in/all-out production, where entire buildings are emptied, cleaned, and disinfected between groups, dramatically reduces pathogen persistence. Vaccination programs complement biosecurity by providing immune protection when biosecurity is imperfect. The welfare investment in biosecurity pays dividends in reduced disease suffering across many animals.