Farm Animals

Pig Respiratory Disease Welfare and Management

Respiratory disease is a major cause of suffering and mortality in growing pigs, requiring integrated prevention through housing, biosecurity, and vaccination.

Key Facts

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) causes significant losses globally
Enzootic pneumonia from Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is endemic in most pig herds
Fully slatted floors without bedding increase respiratory disease risk
Adequate ventilation reduces airborne pathogen and ammonia concentrations
Vaccination programmes combined with biosecurity reduce disease incidence substantially

Welfare Considerations

Respiratory disease causes coughing, laboured breathing, lethargy, and reduced food intake - prolonged welfare costs that can last weeks. Prevention through ventilation management, biosecurity, and vaccination is far preferable to treatment after disease establishes.

What You Can Do

Support farms investing in ventilation systems and respiratory disease monitoring
Advocate for housing standards that require adequate ventilation in pig buildings
Choose pork from certified farms with comprehensive health management programmes