Pig Welfare Indicators: Measuring What Matters

Effective pig welfare assessment requires outcome-based indicators that capture the actual experience of individual animals rather than just the resources provided.

Key Facts

Welfare Quality protocol defines over 30 pig welfare measures across four principles
Tail lesion score is a key indicator of biting behaviour and pen stress
Body condition scoring identifies under- or over-nourished animals
Qualitative behaviour assessment (QBA) captures the positive and negative affective states of animals
Gait scoring for sows can identify lame animals requiring treatment

Welfare Considerations

Resource-based welfare measurements — how much space, what substrate — describe inputs but not outcomes. Outcome-based measures capture actual welfare: are animals injured, sick, distressed or thriving? Tail lesion scoring is particularly valuable because it reflects the prevalence of biting behaviour, which is driven by pain, frustration and poor welfare. Regular, systematic use of welfare indicators at farm level allows early identification of problems before they become severe.

What You Can Do

Support pig farming standards that require regular outcome-based welfare assessment
Advocate for tail lesion scoring as a compulsory audit measure in farm assurance
Choose pork from farms that demonstrate low tail lesion and injury prevalence
Support veterinary guidance on implementing welfare indicator programmes on farms
Engage with farm assurance bodies on improving pig welfare measurement frameworks