Farm Animals

Farmed Pig Biosecurity and Disease Welfare

Biosecurity protects pig health by preventing introduction of infectious diseases, reducing both welfare harm and production losses.

Key Facts

Many serious pig diseases including PRRS and FMD can devastate herd health rapidly
Biosecurity protocols include vehicle disinfection, personnel PPE, and quarantine of new stock
All-in all-out production reduces disease carry-over between batches
High biosecurity farms have lower antibiotic use and better welfare outcomes
Mass culling during disease outbreaks causes welfare harm at scale to non-infected animals

Welfare Considerations

Pigs on farms with poor biosecurity are exposed to repeated disease introduction events causing illness, suffering, and mortality. The welfare cost of inadequate biosecurity is paid by the animals through preventable disease. Investing in farm biosecurity protects pig welfare while reducing treatment costs and antibiotic use.

What You Can Do

Support farm biosecurity education and investment programmes
Advocate for biosecurity standards as a welfare audit component
Choose pork from farms with documented biosecurity management systems