Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Welfare and Respiratory Disease Prevention

Respiratory disease including enzootic pneumonia and PRRS causes significant suffering in pigs. Prevention through vaccination, biosecurity, and housing improvements reduces this welfare burden.

Key Facts

Enzootic pneumonia affects a high proportion of pigs in intensive systems
PRRS (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome) causes severe acute and chronic disease
Vaccination programmes provide significant protection against multiple respiratory pathogens
Ventilation, stocking density, and all-in all-out management reduce transmission
Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae elimination programmes have succeeded on some farms

Welfare Considerations

Respiratory disease causes significant suffering for millions of pigs annually. Prevention-first approaches through vaccination, biosecurity, and housing improvements are more effective and welfare-positive than treatment alone.

What You Can Do

Support farms with comprehensive respiratory disease prevention programmes
Choose welfare-certified pork from farms with low respiratory disease records
Advocate for ventilation and stocking density standards in pig welfare legislation
Learn about pig respiratory disease and its welfare implications