Welfare Science

Pig Welfare and Legacy

Reflecting on the legacy of pig welfare science and advocacy in improving the lives of billions of pigs over recent decades.

Key Facts

EU farrowing crate and sow stall bans represent landmark welfare legislation
Science-based welfare assessment tools have transformed farm welfare monitoring
Consumer campaigns have driven significant corporate commitments to higher-welfare pork
Individual welfare champions in research and advocacy have shaped modern pig welfare
Progress has been uneven but measurable across the industry over 30 years

Welfare Considerations

The pig welfare movement has achieved real, measurable improvements in the lives of millions of animals. Scientific advances in understanding pig cognition, social behaviour, and pain experience have provided the evidence base for welfare standards that could not exist without it. The legacy of this work is a richer, more accurate understanding of pig welfare needs and a growing industry commitment to meeting them.

What You Can Do

Celebrate and share progress in pig welfare to build momentum for further change
Support organisations and researchers building on the welfare science legacy
Reflect on the difference that sustained advocacy makes for animals over long time periods