Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Arthritis and Joint Welfare

Arthritic joint disease in pigs causes chronic pain and lameness that is significantly undertreated in commercial production.

Key Facts

Joint problems in pigs are caused by bacterial arthritis, osteochondrosis and trauma
Mycoplasma hyosynoviae and Haemophilus parasuis are common infectious causes
Floor type and stocking density significantly influence joint health outcomes
Analgesic treatment with NSAIDs reduces pain but is rarely used routinely for pig lameness
Recognition of joint pain using validated scales is improving in commercial settings

Welfare Considerations

Pig joint disease causes chronic pain that is frequently normalised in production settings. Applying the same standards of pain recognition and treatment to pig lameness that apply to companion animals would dramatically improve welfare outcomes.

What You Can Do

Advocate for pain assessment and analgesia as routine welfare requirements for lame pigs
Support vaccination programmes against Mycoplasma hyosynoviae and other joint pathogens
Choose pork from farms with documented lameness monitoring and treatment protocols