Respiratory diseases are among the most common and welfare-compromising conditions in commercial pig production, causing significant pain and distress in affected animals.
Respiratory disease causes significant suffering in pigs, including labored breathing, fever, reduced feed intake, and lethargy. In intensive settings where individual monitoring is difficult, mildly ill pigs may go undetected until the condition is severe. Overcrowding — a primary driver of respiratory disease — creates a self-reinforcing welfare problem: crowded conditions promote disease, which causes suffering, while reducing productivity incentivizes further intensification. Prevention-focused approaches emphasizing adequate ventilation, appropriate stocking density, and vaccination programs address welfare and productivity simultaneously. Early identification of sick pigs and prompt veterinary treatment, including appropriate analgesia, is essential for welfare-conscious pig production.