Farm Animals

Pig Welfare: Faecal Scoring as Health Tool

Faecal scoring in pig herds provides welfare-relevant health information about gut health and disease burden across age groups.

Key Facts

Evidence-based welfare practices improve outcomes for animals
Scientific research guides best practice in this welfare area
Welfare improvements here are achievable at reasonable cost
Public awareness and consumer choice can drive positive welfare change

Welfare Considerations

Regular faecal scoring enables identification of enteric disease burden before clinical illness becomes apparent. Early intervention for gut health problems detected through faecal scoring reduces the welfare cost of unmanaged enteric disease.

What You Can Do

Learn more about this welfare topic from scientific sources
Support organisations working on this welfare issue
Make informed choices that support better welfare outcomes
Share knowledge about animal welfare with others