Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Biosecurity and Welfare Interface

Effective biosecurity on pig farms serves both welfare and disease prevention goals, with synergies that benefit both objectives.

Key Facts

Disease outbreaks on pig farms cause significant suffering in affected individuals
Biosecurity measures that prevent disease entry serve welfare by preventing outbreak suffering
Excessive biosecurity measures can themselves create welfare problems through isolation and restricted access
African swine fever has devastated pig populations globally with massive welfare impacts
Routine health monitoring enables early detection and welfare-preserving intervention

Welfare Considerations

Biosecurity and welfare are complementary objectives in pig farming. The suffering caused by disease outbreaks - including emergency culling operations - is one of the most acute welfare risks on commercial farms. Investment in effective biosecurity protocols protects pig welfare while also protecting farm viability. However, biosecurity measures must themselves be designed not to compromise pig welfare through isolation or stress.

What You Can Do

Support pig health surveillance programmes that enable early disease detection
Advocate for biosecurity standards that also consider welfare implications of isolation protocols
Learn about the welfare dimension of farm biosecurity from pig welfare organisations