Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Welfare and Human Animal Relationship

The human-animal relationship on pig farms significantly affects welfare. Positive stockperson attitudes and gentle handling produce measurable welfare improvements.

Key Facts

Pig fear of humans is measurable and correlates with other welfare indicators
Stockpersons who report negative attitudes toward pigs tend to use more aversive handling
Positive approach tests measure pig fear of humans as a flock-level welfare indicator
Training programmes that change stockperson attitudes improve pig welfare measurably
Calm, predictable handling reduces chronic stress in pig populations

Welfare Considerations

Stockperson attitude and behaviour is one of the most important determinants of pig welfare. Training that improves attitudes and handling skills produces genuine, measurable welfare improvements.

What You Can Do

Support stockperson training programmes focused on human-animal relationships
Advocate for attitude and handling assessment in farm welfare audits
Learn about the science of human-animal relationships on pig farms
Choose welfare-certified pork from farms verified for positive stockmanship