Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Welfare in Hot Climate Regions

Pigs are especially vulnerable to heat stress, creating significant welfare challenges in tropical and subtropical farming regions.

Key Facts

Pigs lack functional sweat glands and rely on wallowing and panting for thermoregulation
Heat stress in pigs causes reduced feed intake, reproductive failure, and increased mortality
Tropical countries with expanding pig industries face severe heat welfare challenges
Shade provision, wallow access, misting systems, and cool drinking water are key mitigations
Genetic selection for heat tolerance is a growing area of research

Welfare Considerations

Billions of pigs in tropical regions experience chronic heat stress that causes genuine suffering and compromises their ability to engage in natural behaviours. As global temperatures rise and pig production expands in tropical regions, heat welfare becomes an urgent priority. Simple, low-cost interventions can substantially reduce heat stress if implemented consistently.

What You Can Do

Support organisations working on pig welfare standards in the global south
Advocate for heat stress welfare provisions in international pig production standards
Learn how climate change is compounding farm animal welfare challenges worldwide