Farrow-to-finish systems raise pigs from birth through slaughter on the same site. They reduce transport welfare harms but create concentrated disease and management challenges.
Farrow-to-finish systems provide welfare advantages by eliminating stressful inter-farm transportation events and reducing disease introduction from outside animals. However, they concentrate all life-stage welfare challenges in one management system — farrowing welfare, weaning stress, growing phase crowding, and finishing conditions must all be managed well. All-in-all-out batch systems with thorough disinfection between groups substantially reduce infectious disease burden. Welfare monitoring systems that track indicators across all production stages are needed to realize the full welfare potential of farrow-to-finish management.