Pig Respiratory Disease and Air Quality Welfare

Respiratory disease affects a significant proportion of pigs in intensive indoor systems - air quality management addressing ammonia and particulates is a key welfare intervention.

Key Facts

Porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) is a multi-factorial disease affecting up to 40% of pigs in some herds
Ammonia from decomposing slurry damages respiratory epithelium and predisposes pigs to bacterial infection
Airborne dust in pig buildings carries pathogens including Mycoplasma and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae
Proper ventilation design reduces ammonia below 20 ppm and particulate matter to welfare-safe levels
Slurry management including frequent removal and pit additives reduces ammonia production
Stocking density directly affects ammonia production per unit floor area
Snout scoring at slaughter assesses chronic rhinitis prevalence as a welfare outcome indicator for farm management

Welfare Considerations

Pig respiratory welfare is closely linked to indoor air quality management. The combined effect of chronic ammonia exposure and pathogen load in poorly ventilated buildings causes both acute disease and chronic rhinitis that impairs olfaction - an important sensory capability for pigs. Welfare-positive air quality management requires investment in ventilation, slurry management and appropriate stocking density. These interventions also reduce antibiotic usage, aligning welfare improvement with public health goals around antimicrobial resistance. Slaughter surveillance data on snout scoring and pluck lesions provides farm-level welfare feedback that can drive management improvement when systematically collected.

What You Can Do

Support farm assurance schemes requiring air quality monitoring and management standards
Advocate for slaughter welfare surveillance data to be used to drive farm management improvement
Choose pork products from outdoor or well-managed indoor systems with documented air quality standards
Support research into cost-effective ventilation improvements for smaller pig farms
Campaign for ammonia monitoring to be a mandatory welfare indicator in pig farm assurance