Farm Animals

Pig Precision Livestock Farming Welfare

Precision livestock farming (PLF) technologies are transforming pig welfare monitoring through automated detection of disease, lameness, and behavioural abnormalities at individual animal level.

Key Facts

PLF sensors monitor pig activity, feeding behaviour, vocalisation, and body weight continuously
Computer vision systems can detect tail biting incidents before they escalate to serious injury
Individual RFID ear tags enable continuous tracking of feeding visits, duration, and intake
Acoustic monitoring systems detect cough patterns associated with respiratory disease onset
Early warning algorithms can alert stockpeople to welfare problems hours before clinical signs are obvious

Welfare Considerations

Traditional pig farm observation misses many early welfare indicators due to the large number of animals per stockperson. PLF creates a multiplier effect - enabling one skilled stockperson to effectively monitor thousands of pigs simultaneously through automated alerting systems. Early intervention prevents minor welfare issues from escalating to serious suffering, fundamentally improving welfare outcomes.

What You Can Do

Support farms investing in PLF technology for individual pig welfare monitoring
Advocate for PLF inclusion in national welfare audit frameworks
Learn about how technology can improve animal welfare monitoring at scale
Choose pork from farms using verified precision livestock monitoring systems