Welfare Science

Farmed Pig Welfare Research Priorities

Identifying the highest-priority research needs in pig welfare science guides investment toward the most impactful knowledge gaps.

Key Facts

Keel bone equivalent welfare harm in pigs is tail biting - root causes are partially understood
Pain assessment tools for pigs are less validated than for other species
Long-term impacts of early life experiences on adult pig welfare are understudied
Genetics-welfare interactions are complex and deserve more research
Consumer psychology of welfare labelling is relevant to market transformation

Welfare Considerations

Welfare research resources are limited and must be prioritised toward questions with the greatest potential welfare impact. The highest priority pig welfare research needs include improved pain assessment tools, better understanding of tail biting root causes, and evaluation of novel housing system welfare outcomes. Connecting research to practice requires dedicated knowledge exchange investment.

What You Can Do

Support pig welfare research funding through charitable giving
Advocate for government welfare research investment
Engage with welfare research findings through academic and industry publications