Pig immune function is influenced by genetics, nutrition, housing, and management. Supporting robust immune function through good husbandry reduces disease incidence, antibiotic use, and the welfare costs of illness.
Supporting pig immune function is simultaneously a welfare and antibiotic stewardship goal. Disease is the most immediate source of suffering in commercial pig production, and prevention through optimal immune support is preferable to treatment of established illness. The interconnected welfare inputs of good nutrition, reduced stress, vaccination, and biosecurity all contribute to immune competence. Farms that achieve low disease incidence with minimal antibiotic use demonstrate that welfare-positive management and responsible antimicrobial use are compatible goals.