Welfare Science

Pig Welfare 21st Century Progress Report

Reviewing pig welfare progress across the 21st century identifies what has been achieved, what remains to be done and what lessons inform future strategy.

Key Facts

EU sow stall bans implemented from 2013 improved gestation welfare for 100 million sows
Corporate cage-free and higher-welfare commitments have increased from under 5% to over 30% of production in some markets
Veterinary antibiotic use in pig production fell 35% in the EU between 2011 and 2020
Public awareness of pig sentience and intelligence has increased substantially with media coverage
Precision livestock technology has created new tools for welfare monitoring unavailable in 2000

Welfare Considerations

Pig welfare in the 21st century has made real but incomplete progress. The gap between legal minimum standards and evidence-based good welfare remains large, requiring sustained commitment across all welfare levers.

What You Can Do

Stay informed about pig welfare progress and setbacks through welfare organisations
Support organisations with track records of achieving measurable welfare improvement
Use your consumer purchasing power and civic voice consistently to advocate for better pig welfare