Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Welfare and Genetic Diversity

Genetic diversity in commercial pig breeds provides resilience against disease and environmental challenges, with narrow genetic bases creating welfare vulnerabilities.

Key Facts

Modern commercial pig genetics are highly concentrated in a few multinational company lines
Narrow genetic bases increase susceptibility to emerging diseases affecting welfare
Heritage breeds retain diverse genetics including disease resistance traits
Crossbreeding commercial lines with heritage breeds introduces genetic diversity
Genomic approaches enable faster recovery of welfare-relevant genetic diversity

Welfare Considerations

Genetic diversity in pig populations provides insurance against emerging health challenges and environmental stressors that affect welfare. Conservation of heritage breed genetics and broader use of diverse genetic lines reduces the vulnerability of commercial pig welfare to novel disease threats.

What You Can Do

Support rare pig breed conservation through purchasing heritage pork products
Advocate for genetic diversity considerations in pig breeding programme standards
Engage with the debate about pig genetic concentration and its welfare implications