Farm Animals

Farmed Pig Respiratory Disease Welfare

Welfare impacts of enzootic pneumonia and other respiratory diseases in pig production and approaches to prevention.

Key Facts

Enzootic pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is endemic in most pig herds
Respiratory disease causes chronic coughing, reduced growth, and significant welfare compromise
Vaccination programs effectively reduce pneumonia incidence and severity
Poor ventilation and high stocking density increase respiratory disease risk
Pigs with respiratory disease show altered behavior including reduced activity and social withdrawal

Welfare Considerations

Respiratory disease causes chronic suffering for affected pigs through coughing, breathing difficulty, and systemic illness. The endemic nature of these diseases in intensive production does not make them acceptable, and prevention through vaccination and ventilation is achievable.

What You Can Do

Support pig welfare standards that include respiratory disease prevalence as a welfare indicator
Advocate for veterinary-led health planning requirements in pig production
Choose pork from farms with documented vaccination programs for respiratory disease