Farmed Pig Mortality Monitoring: Using Death Rates as a Welfare Signal

Mortality rate is one of the most objective welfare indicators available for pig farms. Monitoring and responding to mortality data drives welfare improvements across the sector.

Key Facts

Acceptable pig mortality varies by life stage: suckling 10-15%, weaning 1-2%, finishing 1-2%
Farms with above-average mortality consistently show other welfare problems across assessments
Mortality monitoring enables benchmarking between farms and identification of underperforming units
Common causes of preventable pig mortality include hernias, rectal prolapse, and disease
Reducing mortality requires addressing root causes — genetics, management, environment, and health

Welfare Considerations

Pig farm mortality rates provide an objective, easily measured welfare signal that correlates with broader welfare outcomes. Farms with high mortality rates reliably show worse welfare across multiple other indicators — they are not isolated deaths but symptoms of systemic welfare problems. Mortality monitoring and benchmarking programs allow farms to compare their performance against sector averages and identify areas for improvement. Regulators and certification bodies that use mortality rate thresholds as triggers for investigation create accountability incentives. The welfare goal is not just reducing the number of deaths but addressing the conditions that cause preventable mortality.

What You Can Do

Support welfare certification schemes that include mortality rate monitoring requirements
Advocate for public reporting of pig farm mortality statistics
Learn about mortality rates as a welfare indicator when evaluating pig farming standards
Choose pork from farms with documented low mortality rates and improvement programs