Improving Pig Welfare
a. Housing and Environment
- Provide adequate space to allow pigs to lie comfortably and move freely.
- Ensure proper ventilation to reduce heat stress and respiratory problems.
- Maintain clean, dry, and comfortable bedding (e.g., straw).
- Avoid barren environments – provide enrichment materials such as straw, hay, wood, or toys to reduce tail biting and stereotypies.
b. Feeding and Water
- Ensure constant access to clean drinking water.
- Provide balanced diets that meet nutritional requirements for growth, reproduction, and lactation.
- Minimize feed competition by providing adequate feeder space.
- Avoid prolonged feed restriction in breeding sows (can cause frustration and stereotypic behavior).
c. Health and Disease Control
- Regular vaccination and deworming programs.
- Good hygiene and biosecurity measures to prevent outbreaks.
- Monitor for lameness, respiratory diseases, and skin lesions.
- Provide quick veterinary treatment for sick or injured animals.
d. Breeding and Reproduction
- Avoid genetic selection solely for fast growth or lean meat – it can lead to leg weakness and stress susceptibility.
- Select for robustness, maternal ability, and calm temperament.
- Replace confinement systems (gestation stalls, farrowing crates) with group housing or free farrowing pens.
e. Behavioral Needs and Enrichment
- Provide rooting and foraging opportunities to allow pigs to express natural behaviors.
- Group housing should allow pigs to establish stable social structures.
- Reduce aggression at mixing by gradual introductions and use of enrichment.
f. Handling and Transport
- Train handlers in calm and gentle stockmanship.
- Avoid rough handling, electric prods, or loud noises.
- Loading and unloading facilities should be well-designed (non-slip floors, proper ramps).
- Keep transport short, well-ventilated, and not overcrowded.
g. Welfare Monitoring
- Assess injuries, tail biting, lameness, body condition score as welfare indicators.
- Observe behavior for signs of stress, aggression, or abnormal activities.
- Implement continuous improvement programs with regular welfare audits.