Welfare Science

Pig Welfare Public Health Linkages

Animal welfare and public health are linked through antibiotic resistance, zoonotic disease risk, and working conditions - creating co-benefits when welfare is improved.

Key Facts

Overuse of antibiotics in pig farming contributes to antibiotic resistance affecting human medicine
Pig farming workers face elevated zoonotic disease risk including MRSA, influenza, and leptospirosis
Better welfare reduces disease incidence and therefore antibiotic use - a direct public health benefit
Workers in high-welfare systems report lower occupational stress and higher job satisfaction
Pandemic preparedness researchers identify intensive pig farming as a pandemic risk factor

Welfare Considerations

The welfare-public health nexus creates compelling non-welfare arguments for welfare improvement that reach policymakers and public health advocates otherwise unengaged with animal welfare. Reducing pig disease through welfare improvement reduces antibiotic use, protecting human health. Improving worker conditions in pig farming reduces zoonotic exposure risk. These co-benefits strengthen the political economy case for welfare investment beyond its intrinsic value.

What You Can Do

Support one health approaches that link animal welfare and public health policy
Advocate for antibiotic stewardship as part of integrated pig welfare improvement programmes
Learn about the links between farm animal welfare and human health outcomes
Choose pork from farms with low antibiotic use and verified welfare management