Pig Welfare Research Priorities 2027

Setting clear research priorities for pig welfare in 2027 ensures that scientific investment addresses the most welfare-relevant questions with the greatest potential for practical impact.

Key Facts

CO2 stunning alternatives require commercial-scale trial research to demonstrate viability
Positive welfare indicators need validation studies confirming correlation with underlying welfare states
Gut health interventions replacing zinc oxide require efficacy research under commercial conditions
Social housing solutions for breeding boars need systematic study of different approaches
Digital monitoring tools for individual pig welfare require validation against established welfare measures

Welfare Considerations

Research priority-setting for 2027 pig welfare requires balancing urgency - addressing the most acute and prevalent welfare problems - with strategic impact - focusing research on questions whose answers can influence industry-wide standards. CO2 stunning alternatives represent the most urgent research priority given the scale of welfare suffering and the commercial readiness of potential alternatives. Positive welfare indicator validation is the most strategically impactful priority for the longer term.

What You Can Do

Support research organisations addressing the highest-priority pig welfare research questions
Advocate for research funding to be directed toward the most welfare-impactful priorities
Engage with the evidence base as research questions are answered and acted upon