Farm Animals

Pig Welfare: Positive Stockpersonship Training

Training programmes that improve stockperson attitudes and behaviours toward pigs have demonstrated significant, measurable welfare improvements.

Key Facts

Stockperson attitude toward animals is one of the strongest predictors of farm-level welfare outcomes
Training that changes attitudes not just behaviours produces more lasting welfare improvements
Positive reinforcement-based stock handling reduces fear and stress during routine procedures
Stockperson training programmes in Australia and Europe have demonstrated welfare and production improvements

Welfare Considerations

Stockpersonship is the human-side of welfare management that determines how well physical resources and systems are translated into animal welfare outcomes. Investing in stockperson training and positive attitudes toward animals pays welfare dividends that extend across all aspects of farm management.

What You Can Do

Support farm assurance schemes that include stockpersonship assessment
Advocate for positive stockpersonship training to be a core component of agricultural education
Engage with organisations developing evidence-based stockpersonship training programmes