Enzootic pneumonia and other respiratory diseases are major welfare and economic problems in pig production, with ventilation design being the most important preventive factor.
Respiratory disease causes significant suffering in pigs - coughing, difficulty breathing, reduced appetite and growth depression. Much of this disease burden is preventable through housing design decisions: adequate air exchange, avoidance of draughts, appropriate stocking density and all-in all-out systems. Where respiratory disease is common, it reflects a systemic failure of welfare management.