Whether pigs are raised indoors or outdoors, quality standards and good management practices must be followed to guarantee their welfare.

These standards are established and monitored by the Certified Humane® Institute, the representative in Latin America and Asia of Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC), the leading international organization dedicated to improving the lives of farm animals and responsible for the Certified Humane® animal welfare certification seal.

Raising pigs in inadequate environments leads to a range of negative consequences.

When forced to live in overcrowded spaces without proper ventilation to remove dust and harmful gases (such as ammonia), or when exposed to excessive heat or cold without shelter, pigs experience prolonged stress and metabolic disorders. These conditions can weaken the immune system, affect meat appearance, and reduce product quality.

Providing proper care and suitable environments for each type of pig facilitates management and reduces operating costs.

Specific Requirements

In addition to nutrition, handling, and farm management, each governed by specific standards, the environment where pigs are raised must not be improvised or deficient.

Housing must be designed to provide comfort and calm throughout all production stages, enabling pigs to meet their physiological and behavioral needs.

This means providing appropriate environments for each category, adults, breeding females, and piglets, according to their specific requirements.

For example, sows in farrowing areas must have straw bedding, nesting material, and a resting space large enough to turn around freely.

Crates are strictly prohibited!

Housing requirements for piglets specify minimum resting areas and total space per animal based on growth stage. These areas must increase as pigs grow and gain weight.

In general, all pigs must be kept in environments that do not cause discomfort, stress, or injuries. Toxic materials or surfaces coated with unapproved paints or disinfectants must not be used.

Housing must provide adequate ventilation, comfortable temperatures, and bedding (such as straw or rubber flooring) in sufficient space for all animals to lie down comfortably.

Detailed measurements and requirements for housing at each production stage, as well as standards for other farm animal species, are described in the Certified Humane® animal welfare program guidelines.

Herd Health

Pig health and welfare are ensured through a set of good-practice standards, including:

• Appropriate environments tailored to species-specific needs;
• Nutrition formulated according to production stage and access to fresh, quality water;
• Calm handling using proper tools;
• Responsible and rigorous production management.

Additional care is also required.

Every pig production system must have a written Animal Health Plan (AHP), regularly updated by a veterinarian. The plan details vaccination schedules, health treatments (such as parasite control), causes of disease, mortality data, and more. All sudden deaths must be recorded and investigated.

Herd performance must be continuously monitored to detect disease signs or disturbances, such as unexpected weight loss. Facilities must allow for the immediate separation and treatment of sick or injured pigs.

Farms must also be prepared, when necessary, for trained staff or a veterinarian to carry out humane euthanasia on-site for animals that are severely ill or injured with no chance of recovery, ensuring suffering is not prolonged.

Protocols must also exist for quarantining incoming pigs and for carcass disposal.

By respecting all conditions that ensure ideal management and environments that minimize stress, farms can guarantee pig welfare. Products from such systems are eligible for Certified Humane® certification, earning market and consumer trust.

→ Learn everything about animal welfare certification now.

In this article, we break down the main myths and facts about animal welfare certification to show that the path toward more ethical and responsible production is more accessible than it seems. If you work with animal production or use animal-based products in your supply chain, this is worth reading.

Is certification really for everyone?

Yes. Contrary to popular belief, animal welfare certification does not depend on the size of the farm or company. What truly matters is the commitment to best practices. Both small and large producers can become certified, as long as they follow the standards and are organized to meet the established criteria.

Is it expensive?

No. The process involves clear and proportional fees based on the size of the operation. Costs include document review, on-site audits and annual renewal. In fact, certification can lead to long-term savings, animals raised with proper care get sick less often, are more productive and add value to the final product.

Is it a complicated process?

Another myth. The standards are objective and science-based. They guide how to ensure that animals have enough space, comfort, proper access to food and clean water, and live free from pain, stress and mistreatment. With proper planning and transparency, any producer can comply.

Why do these myths still exist?

Much of the resistance comes from misinformation. As with any improvement process, questions and hesitation are common. But the market has evolved, and consumers are paying more attention to the origin of what they consume. Being certified is also a way to stand out and strengthen your market position.

Is the Certified Humane® label truly reliable?

Yes. Since 2003, the program has been active in several countries, including Brazil, Canada, Chile, Peru and the United States,certifying meat, dairy, and egg producers through rigorous and regular audits. The seal assures consumers that the product complies with international animal welfare standards.

There are no economic or geographic barriers for those who want to produce ethically. The first step is seeking reliable information. The Certified Humane® seal is within reach for anyone who values respect for farm animals and aims to offer more responsible products.

Want to learn more about how certification works and debunk the most common myths?

👉 Download the free guide “What You Need to Know to Certify Your Industrial Operation with an Animal Welfare Seal” and discover why this practice benefits producers, businesses, and consumers alike.

Just like other production animals, they need to be in environments suitable for their species, resulting in less stress for the animals and increased productivity for the farm.

In Asia, reports from the Asia for Animals Coalition have shown that many countries face significant challenges regarding swine welfare.

In places like China and Vietnam, the use of gestation crates, which limit the animals’ movement, contributes to high levels of stress and health issues, such as injuries and metabolic diseases.

Moreover, the lack of proper ventilation and climate control in farms located in regions with extreme weather exacerbates thermal stress in swine, negatively impacting their health and productivity.

While there have been advancements in raising awareness about animal welfare, only a small fraction of operations in Asia have obtained welfare certifications, such as Certified Humane. To learn more about certification in Asia, visit Certified Humane Asia.

It doesn’t matter if the farm operates in an indoor or outdoor environment: in both cases, there are quality standards that must be followed to ensure swine welfare.

Raising swine in inadequate environments leads to a series of negative consequences: when they are forced to live in confined spaces, with poor ventilation and under extreme weather conditions, swine become stressed and suffer metabolic changes, which can affect the appearance of the meat and the quality of the final product.

Raising swine with proper care and in a suitable environment facilitates management and reduces operational costs.

Specific requirements

In addition to fundamental activities such as feeding, management, and farm administration, the environment in which swine are raised must be carefully designed to ensure comfort and tranquility throughout all stages of production.

This includes providing each type of swine—adults, females, and piglets—with an environment that meets their specific needs.

For instance, sows in labor require a birthing environment with straw bedding, materials for nest-building, and a resting area large enough for them to move freely. Crates are strictly prohibited.

The specific requirements for piglets dictate, based on a pre-established chart, the size of the resting area and the minimum total area for each growing pig. These areas must increase in size as the swine grow and gain weight.

In general, all swine need environments free from discomfort, stress, or risk of injury; this means no toxic materials, painted surfaces, or disinfectants; the environments must have proper ventilation, a comfortable temperature, and sufficient bedding for all animals.

The rules and measures necessary to meet the specific environmental requirements for swine farming—as well as those for other species of production animals—are described in the Certified Humane animal welfare program’s guidelines and reference standards. For more details, visit Certified Humane Asia.

Herd health

The health and welfare of swine are ensured by a set of treatment standards that include:

• Suitable environments to meet specific requirements;
• Nutrition with a well-crafted diet and fresh water;
• Calm and firm handling of the herd;
• Responsible and rigorous management of the farm.

It is essential that every swine farm has a written Animal Health Plan (PSA) regularly updated by a veterinarian. The PSA details vaccination, health treatments, causes of mortality, and more. Additionally, all sudden deaths must be recorded, reported, and investigated.

The swine herd should be constantly monitored for signs of diseases and other potential disruptions in production. Appropriate environments must be available to separate and immediately treat sick and injured swine from the rest of the herd.

The farm must also be prepared, if necessary, to humanely slaughter or immediately euthanize sick or injured swine, performed on-site by a trained staff member or veterinarian.

There are also rules for mandatory quarantine of swine brought from other sources and for the disposal of deceased swine carcasses.

By respecting and fulfilling all conditions that create the ideal environment to prevent animal stress and ensure swine welfare, the products from this farming process become eligible to receive the Certified Humane animal welfare certification, gaining the trust of both the market and consumers.

→ Learn everything about animal welfare certification!