Good biosecurity on pig farms prevents introduction of devastating diseases that cause catastrophic welfare harm, making it a fundamental welfare management component.
A single biosecurity failure can introduce a disease that causes catastrophic welfare harm to thousands of pigs. ASF causes a haemorrhagic death with no treatment available; FMD causes painful lesions and inability to eat or walk. Prevention through rigorous biosecurity is the only available welfare protection against these severe and incurable diseases. Biosecurity is therefore directly equivalent to preventive welfare management.