Farm Animals

Pig Welfare and Welfare and Precision Livestock 2026

Precision livestock farming technologies are transforming pig welfare by enabling continuous individual monitoring and early intervention.

Key Facts

Smart ear tags monitor individual pig temperature, activity, and location in real time
AI analysis of pig vocalisation patterns identifies distress, pain, and oestrus
Camera-based gait analysis identifies lame pigs before clinical signs are obvious
Automated body condition scoring from camera images tracks individual sow welfare
Integration of multiple data streams creates comprehensive individual welfare profiles

Welfare Considerations

Precision livestock technology is a welfare revolution, enabling continuous individual monitoring that transforms reactive into proactive welfare management.

What You Can Do

Advocate for precision livestock welfare monitoring standards
Support research validating precision livestock welfare indicators
Choose pork from farms investing in precision welfare monitoring