Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Aggression Management at Re-stocking

Introducing new pigs into established groups causes serious aggression and welfare-compromising injuries that skilled management can minimize.

Key Facts

Aggression during mixing causes wounds, stress, and competitive exclusion from resources
The severity of aggression peaks in the first 24-72 hours after mixing
Providing multiple feeding points and sufficient space reduces injury severity
Some producers add novel odors to mask individual pig scent recognition
Straw provision during mixing reduces aggression by redirecting investigative behavior

Welfare Considerations

Pig mixing causes preventable suffering that skilled management significantly reduces. Understanding pig social behavior and implementing evidence-based mixing protocols is a welfare responsibility for all pig farmers.

What You Can Do

Support stockperson training programs that include mixing management techniques
Advocate for mixing management protocols in pig welfare certification
Choose pork from farms demonstrating commitment to low-stress social management