Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Welfare and Open Data: Benchmarking Across Farms

Open welfare data systems that allow benchmarking across pig farms have the potential to drive improvement through transparency, competition and evidence-based management.

Key Facts

Welfare data benchmarking has improved antibiotic stewardship in several European countries
UK pig welfare outcomes database allows farms to compare outcomes against sector averages
Tail lesion prevalence, mortality rate and antibiotic use are core benchmarking metrics
Benchmarking creates positive peer pressure to improve welfare outcomes across sectors
Data sharing requires robust anonymisation to encourage participation from farmers

Welfare Considerations

Open benchmarking data creates accountability and drives improvement more effectively than inspection alone. Widespread participation and transparent public reporting can accelerate welfare progress across the pig sector.

What You Can Do

Advocate for mandatory welfare outcome data reporting in pig farm certification
Support open welfare data initiatives and databases in agriculture
Use available welfare benchmarking data when choosing pork producers and retailers