Proactive disease prevention in pig farming is simultaneously the most welfare-positive and economically rational approach, yet remains underinvested in many systems.
Disease prevention welfare in pig farming is a case where welfare science and farm economics are perfectly aligned yet the alignment is not fully exploited across the industry. Preventing disease is cheaper than treating it, reduces antibiotic use, avoids welfare costs of illness, and improves production performance. The barriers are cultural — reactive treatment is familiar and immediate while prevention requires systematic investment and discipline. Farms with excellent biosecurity, vaccination, and health monitoring consistently outperform industry averages on both welfare and financial metrics.