How dead pigs are identified, managed, and disposed of reflects herd welfare standards. Evidence-based protocols for mortality recording and carcass management are welfare tools.
On-farm pig mortality is a direct welfare indicator reflecting the aggregate welfare experience of a herd. Farms with consistently high mortality rates are experiencing preventable welfare harm at scale. Regular mortality recording — with identification of the cause where possible — provides welfare monitoring data that guides management investigation and improvement. National benchmarking allows identification of herds with above-average mortality requiring investigation.
The welfare of living pigs in pens where a dead pig remains is also a consideration. Animals social interactions with a dead conspecific are potentially distressing, and the presence of a carcass increases pathogen exposure for remaining pigs. Prompt removal — ideally within hours of discovery — is both a welfare and biosecurity measure.