Farm Animals

Farmed Pig Stress and Immunity Link

The relationship between chronic stress in pigs and immune function, and welfare implications for health outcomes.

Key Facts

Chronic stress suppresses immune function in pigs, increasing disease susceptibility
Cortisol as a stress marker is elevated in pigs in barren, crowded environments
Enrichment and stable social groups reduce stress hormones and improve immune response
Acute stress during transport and mixing causes temporary immune suppression
Stress-immune interactions explain why welfare improvement reduces antibiotic requirements

Welfare Considerations

Chronic stress in pigs causes both direct suffering and indirect welfare harm through immune suppression and increased disease susceptibility, making enrichment a double welfare benefit.

What You Can Do

Support farms investing in enrichment and stable group management
Advocate for stress reduction as an explicit welfare and health goal
Encourage vets to measure cortisol markers as part of welfare assessments