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.

Developed from scientific research, veterinary recommendations, and producers’ experience, the Certified Humane® standard for dairy cattle establishes species-specific requirements. By complying, producers earn the right to display the Certified Humane® seal on product labels and in company marketing communications.

Proper nutrition and the environment in which cattle are raised are detailed in specific chapters of the standard, including particular requirements so calves and bulls can feed, exercise, and rest safely without injury.

Follow along to discover practical tips for dairy cattle nutrition and housing.

Nutrition of dairy cattle

Cattle must have access to a diet that is healthy and appropriate for their age and production stage, in sufficient quantity for all animals. Certain feeds and veterinary products are strictly prohibited.

Practical recommendations:

• Feed containing protein derived from mammals or birds is prohibited, except milk and milk by-products;
• Recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) must not be used to stimulate productivity;
• Cattle must never be fed antibiotics, ionophores, coccidiostats, or other substances to promote performance, feed efficiency, or milk yield;
• Antibiotics for disease treatment may only be administered under veterinary guidance;
• Adult cattle and calves over 30 days old must receive fiber sources that stimulate rumination;
• Dairy cows should be fed primarily quality pasture and forage in sufficient quantity;
• Feeders must be clean, easily accessible, and provide enough space for all animals to eat simultaneously;
• The entire herd must have daily access to clean, fresh drinking water, with contingency supply for emergencies such as drought;
• All animals must maintain a body condition score of at least 2, according to the standard’s classification table

Nutritional requirements for calves

Calf nutrition must meet specific requirements to ensure healthy development:

• Calves must have constant access to clean, fresh water from the first week of life;

• Newborn calves must receive 2–4 liters of colostrum from the mother, another recently calved cow, or frozen colostrum within the first 6 hours of life;
• Calves must not be weaned before 5 weeks of age, and weaning should be gradual by diluting milk with water;
• After 30 days of life, calves must receive daily feed or forage containing digestible fiber.

Suitable environment for dairy cattle

Housing must not cause physical, thermal, or emotional discomfort and must allow natural behaviors. Animals must have full freedom of movement to lie down, stand up, turn around, groom, and stretch. Tethering is strictly prohibited.

Key recommendations:

• Farms must keep records including total floor area, number of pens or stalls, resting space size, maximum stocking density by age and weight, and feeder and drinker availability;
• Floors must be non-slip and free from elements that cause recurring injuries;
• Barn height must allow normal behavior during mating season, and passageways must permit safe movement without hoof damage;
• Animals housed in loose systems must have shelter from wind and access to a dry, well-drained resting area with sufficient space and comfort; shade structures must accommodate all animals simultaneously;
• Loose housing must provide at least 5.6 m² per adult cow so they can lie down at the same time;
• Bedding must be at least 7.5 cm deep; suitable substrate or rubber flooring (minimum 2.54 cm thick) may be used to absorb moisture;
• Ammonia concentration must not exceed 25 ppm in extreme cases;
• Ventilation must maintain relative humidity below 80%, and lighting must allow inspection at any time;
• Calving areas must be clean, dry or well-drained, and have access to water;
• Milking parlors must be kept extremely clean; milking equipment must be frequently calibrated and properly maintained.

Housing requirements for bulls and calves

Specific requirements also apply to bulls and calves:

• Bulls must have individual housing areas of at least 14 m²; large bulls require 1 m² of resting space per 60 kg of body weight and at least 28 m² of exercise area;
• After weaning, calves must be grouped by similar age and size and have access to an outdoor area;
• Calves must have a resting area in solid-floor housing (no slats) with clean, dry bedding and adequate slope for drainage; individual housing is permitted up to 8 weeks of age with appropriate space for age, size, and breed.