Pig Welfare and Breeding Programme Reform

Reforming pig breeding programmes to include welfare traits alongside production traits is essential for long-term welfare improvement at scale.

Key Facts

Commercial breeding companies control genetics for the majority of global pig production
Including welfare traits in selection indices requires validated trait measurement tools
Heritability estimates for welfare traits including robustness, disease resistance, and temperament are established
Commercial barriers to welfare trait inclusion include measurement cost and trait-production trade-offs
Denmark and Netherlands have made most progress on welfare trait inclusion in commercial pig genetics

Welfare Considerations

Breeding programme reform is a welfare intervention with unprecedented scale potential - genetic changes propagate through commercial populations within 3-5 years, reaching every farm using the selected parent stock. The leverage of genetics is therefore extraordinary relative to other welfare interventions. Progress has been slow due to commercial barriers and measurement challenges, but the welfare case for accelerating breeding programme reform is compelling given this scale potential.

What You Can Do

Support pig welfare genetics research including trait identification and commercial validation
Advocate for welfare trait weighting to be required in commercial pig breeding programmes
Choose pork from genetics companies demonstrating welfare-inclusive selection