Welfare Science

Pig Welfare and Legacy of Advocacy

The history of pig welfare advocacy demonstrates that sustained, evidence-based campaigns can transform industry practices and improve lives for billions of animals.

Key Facts

Gestation crate bans in the EU and several US states followed decades of welfare advocacy
The sow stalls campaign began in the 1980s and achieved full EU bans by 2013
Corporate pig welfare campaigns have secured commitments from over 200 major food companies
Welfare science has increasingly supported advocacy claims with robust evidence
Each generation of advocates builds on previous achievements, compounding progress

Welfare Considerations

Welfare advocacy has transformed pig farming over 40 years. The legacy of past campaigns provides both evidence and inspiration for current and future advocates.

What You Can Do

Learn about the history of animal welfare advocacy to understand what works
Join established welfare organisations to build on existing momentum
Support the next generation of welfare advocates through mentoring and funding