Farm Animals

Pig Respiratory Disease and Welfare

Respiratory disease causes significant welfare suffering in pigs across all production systems, with multifactorial causes including pathogens, environmental stressors, and management factors.

Key Facts

Porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) affects most commercial pig farms worldwide
Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and PRRS virus are primary pathogens in PRDC
Poor ventilation and ammonia exposure increase respiratory disease susceptibility
Vaccination, biosecurity, and all-in-all-out management reduce disease incidence
Chronic respiratory disease causes long-term welfare suffering beyond acute disease periods

Welfare Considerations

Pig respiratory disease welfare requires both prevention through vaccination and management improvement, and prompt treatment of affected animals. The welfare costs of chronic respiratory disease including chronic pain and reduced activity are often underappreciated by producers.

What You Can Do

Advocate for respiratory disease monitoring as a standard welfare indicator in pig production
Support research into respiratory disease prevention in different pig production systems
Choose higher welfare pork from certified farms with documented health programmes