Farm Animals

Pig Good Stockmanship Welfare Impact

Stockperson skill, attitude, and knowledge are among the strongest predictors of pig welfare outcomes. Investing in stockmanship training has high welfare returns.

Key Facts

Fear of humans is measurable in pigs and correlates directly with welfare outcomes
Positive human-animal relationships reduce pig stress during handling
Aversive handling including shouting and hitting worsens fear and production
Regular stockmanship training improves welfare outcomes across herds
Stockperson attitude toward animals is the single most important welfare determinant

Welfare Considerations

The relationship between pigs and their caretakers profoundly affects welfare. Pigs handled gently and positively show lower stress hormones and better welfare indicators. Those subjected to aversive handling show chronic fearfulness that persists and affects all aspects of their lives. Investment in stockmanship training is one of the highest-value welfare interventions available.

What You Can Do

Support stockmanship training programmes for pig farmers and workers
Advocate for stockmanship standards in welfare certification schemes
Recognise and reward farms with high positive human-animal relationship scores