Respiratory disease is a leading welfare and production problem in pig farming. Air quality management and vaccination programs significantly reduce disease burden.
Pig respiratory welfare depends on air quality that is adequate but frequently not achieved in intensive systems. Ammonia from pig waste, combined with dust from feed and bedding, creates an environment that damages respiratory epithelium and enables pathogen colonization. Chronic respiratory disease causes coughing, reduced growth, and persistent respiratory distress — ongoing welfare harm for affected animals. Adequate ventilation is the primary prevention, alongside vaccination against key pathogens. Farms with excellent ventilation management and active health monitoring achieve substantially lower respiratory disease prevalence than poorly managed units.