Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Welfare Research Priorities 2026

Pig welfare research priorities reflect the most significant unresolved welfare challenges in commercial production. Understanding these guides advocacy investment.

Key Facts

Tail biting etiology and prevention remain the most studied and least resolved welfare issues in pig production
Keel bone welfare equivalent - pen injury through floor aggression - is a growing research priority
Positive welfare indicators for pigs are increasingly incorporated into research programs
Transportation welfare for pigs remains under-studied relative to its scale and impact
Climate change adaptation welfare for pigs including heat stress management is an emerging priority

Welfare Considerations

Understanding current pig welfare research priorities enables advocates to support the most impactful work. Research priorities reflect where the evidence base is weakest relative to welfare significance - areas where targeted research investment can produce the greatest welfare improvement per dollar. Connecting advocacy resources to research priorities maximizes collective welfare impact.

What You Can Do

Support pig welfare research funding organizations working on priority welfare challenges
Advocate for research funding allocation that prioritizes the highest welfare-impact questions
Follow pig welfare research outputs to stay current on evidence guiding advocacy
Connect with pig welfare research networks to amplify evidence into policy and practice