Livestock Welfare

Rectal Prolapse in Pigs: Prevention and Welfare

Understanding and preventing rectal prolapse in pigs — a painful condition with significant welfare implications.

Key Facts

Rectal prolapse occurs when the rectal mucosa protrudes through the anus
It is most common in growing pigs at 40-70kg liveweight
Risk factors include diarrhoea, respiratory disease causing coughing, and dietary factors
Once prolapsed, the exposed tissue attracts biting from pen-mates — causing severe injury
Affected pigs must be removed and isolated immediately to prevent further trauma

Welfare Considerations

Rectal prolapse represents a painful welfare emergency in affected pigs. The prolapsed rectal mucosa is immediately vulnerable to trauma from pen-mates, who investigate and bite at the exposed, unusual tissue. Within minutes of prolapse onset, the tissue can be severely traumatised. Without immediate isolation, the prolapse becomes life-threatening through haemorrhage and sepsis.

Even when identified early and managed promptly, rectal prolapse causes significant pain. Manual replacement of the prolapse (under sedation) and application of a purse-string suture may be possible in early cases. More established prolapses require amputation under anaesthesia. The post-operative recovery period involves ongoing discomfort.

Prevention requires addressing predisposing factors: controlling diarrhoea through disease management and appropriate nutrition, reducing respiratory disease that causes excessive coughing, and reviewing stocking density and environmental factors. Mycotoxin contamination of feed (particularly zearalenone) predisposes to prolapse and should be investigated in herds with elevated prevalence.

What You Can Do

Remove any pig with a rectal prolapse immediately and isolate from pen-mates
Seek veterinary treatment promptly — early prolapses may be repairable
Investigate and address underlying causes (diarrhoea, coughing, dietary factors) if prolapse is recurring
Review feed for mycotoxin contamination in herds with elevated prolapse rates
Implement euthanasia promptly for cases where treatment is not feasible or welfare is severely compromised