Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Genetic Welfare and Breed Selection

Genetic selection in pigs offers opportunities to breed for improved welfare traits - breed selection is the most permanent welfare intervention available.

Key Facts

Genetic selection for disease resistance reduces antibiotic use and suffering simultaneously
Leg conformation genetics influence long-term sow lameness and longevity
Piglet survival rate is a heritable trait that can be improved through selection
Social and cognitive traits including fearfulness have moderate heritability
Polled pig genetics could eliminate ear notching and tail docking requirements in some contexts

Welfare Considerations

Genetic selection is the most permanent and scalable welfare intervention available to the pig industry. Breeding companies that prioritise welfare traits alongside production create lasting improvements in every pig born from improved genetics.

What You Can Do

Support breeding programmes that explicitly include welfare traits in selection indices
Advocate for transparency in genetic selection criteria from breeding companies
Engage with organisations promoting welfare genetics research in livestock