Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Outdoor Access and Biosecurity Balance

Outdoor pig access provides welfare benefits but carries disease risks requiring careful biosecurity management to balance both concerns.

Key Facts

Outdoor pigs have access to natural behaviours but face disease risks from wildlife contact
Swine Erysipelas, leptospirosis and parasites are more prevalent in outdoor pigs
PRRS and CSF biosecurity requires careful management of visitor and equipment movement
Disease risk can be mitigated through vaccination, parasite control and biosecurity protocols
The welfare benefits of outdoor access justify the management burden when biosecurity is addressed

Welfare Considerations

The outdoor welfare benefit is genuine and substantial. The disease risks are real but manageable with appropriate protocols. Outdoor systems with good biosecurity achieve better welfare outcomes than indoor systems, and the argument from disease risk alone does not justify indoor confinement.

What You Can Do

Support development of biosecurity guidance specifically for outdoor pig production systems
Advocate for disease surveillance programmes that support outdoor pig farming safety
Choose outdoor-reared pork and support producers demonstrating biosecurity alongside welfare