Pig Welfare and Welfare and Social Bonds 2026

Pig social bonds are welfare-significant relationships that affect emotional state, stress responses, and behaviour throughout the production cycle.

Key Facts

Pigs form preferential social bonds with specific individuals, spending more time near bonded partners
Separation from bonded partners causes measurable stress responses including elevated cortisol
Maintaining stable social groups from weaning to slaughter reduces welfare costs of separation stress
Electronic identification enables tracking of social bonds and preferential associations over time
Social bond formation is enhanced by environmental enrichment that promotes positive social interaction

Welfare Considerations

Pig social bonds matter for welfare. Respecting and maintaining these bonds throughout the production system reduces suffering and reflects the social nature of pigs.

What You Can Do

Advocate for social group stability requirements in pig welfare certification
Support research on pig social bonds and their welfare implications
Choose pork from farms that maintain stable social groups