Monitoring stereotypic behaviour frequency in pig populations provides a welfare indicator that complements health and performance metrics, guiding targeted management improvements.
Stereotypy monitoring converts an observable welfare indicator into data that guides management decisions. Farms where a high proportion of pigs show stereotypic behaviour have an identifiable welfare problem requiring investigation. Regular monitoring allows welfare trends to be tracked over time and the impact of management changes to be evaluated. This transforms stereotypy from an anecdotal concern into a manageable welfare metric.