Pig Handling and Animal Welfare

Animal welfare is broader than whether pigs are indoors or outdoors. It includes daily care, access to feed and water, environmental conditions, handling, health management and what happens when animals are transported.

Pigs respond to their environment

Handling methods, footing, temperature, group movement and facility design can affect stress. Calm movement and well-designed handling areas can reduce unnecessary pressure on animals.

Heat deserves special attention

Pigs are particularly sensitive to heat stress. During hot and humid weather, transport and handling require additional attention to ventilation, loading density, delays and the condition of the animals.

Fitness for transport

Animals should be assessed before transport. Canadian humane transport requirements distinguish between animals that are fit, compromised or unfit for transportation and establish requirements intended to prevent avoidable suffering.

Look beyond a single label

Words such as pasture-raised, free-range or local do not by themselves provide a complete welfare assessment. Consumers buying directly have an opportunity to ask about stocking, shelter, bedding, handling, health care, transportation and the farm’s approach to sick or injured animals.

PureBeef does not rank one production system as automatically humane or inhumane. We explain the practice so consumers can ask better questions.