Farm Animals

Farmed Pig Welfare: One Health Connections

Pig welfare and human health are connected through antimicrobial resistance, zoonotic disease, and food safety.

Key Facts

High welfare systems reduce antibiotic use by reducing disease incidence requiring treatment
Stress in pigs increases pathogen shedding that increases zoonotic transmission risk
Good stockperson hygiene and farm biosecurity reduces both pig and human disease risk
Consumer demand for welfare-labelled pork that supports antibiotic reduction benefits public health

Welfare Considerations

Pig welfare and human health are aligned more than opposed. High welfare systems that reduce disease incidence reduce antibiotic requirements, limiting AMR risk. Stress management that reduces pathogen shedding reduces zoonotic transmission risk. The One Health framework that connects animal welfare, human health, and environmental health is a powerful advocacy frame.

What You Can Do

Support One Health approaches that link animal welfare and human health in policy
Advocate for antibiotic stewardship through welfare improvement rather than antibiotic restriction alone
Share the connection between high welfare pork and antibiotic stewardship with consumers