Welfare Science

Farmed Pig Welfare: Academic Research Future Directions

Setting future research directions for pig welfare science ensures continued knowledge growth for welfare improvement.

Key Facts

Pain science in pigs including nociception, chronic pain, and analgesic efficacy needs further research
Positive welfare indicators and positive emotional states in pigs are an expanding research frontier
Global welfare assessment including developing world production systems needs more research attention
Human dimensions of pig welfare including stockperson attitudes and consumer behaviour are research priorities

Welfare Considerations

Directing future pig welfare research toward the most impactful knowledge gaps ensures that research investment produces maximum welfare improvement. Priority areas including pain management, positive welfare, global contexts, and human dimensions complement existing welfare science with new knowledge for practical application.

What You Can Do

Support academic pig welfare research programmes through donations and advocacy
Engage with welfare research priority consultations as a citizen stakeholder
Share welfare research findings with producers, policymakers, and consumers to maximise impact